Head on collisions. Does size matter? Warning! Long Post

[Rev_ED7]

Good day everyone,

On the afternoon of Monday July 25, I was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle. I was on my way back home from dropping my parents off at the doctors and decided to take a route which passed by my university campus. Upon entering a busy intersection heading east bound, another student in a red 99 pontiac trans am(?) heading west bound decided to make a left turn which crossed directly into my path. I had no time to react. At that split second my car slammed head on into the front of his car going at about 45mph. His story was that a large trunk had blocked his point of view and he did not see me at all. He did not appear to be making this up so I gave him the benefit of the doubt (because we both had the green light, I was heading straight and he was turning; therefore, I had the rightaway. The police woman said this to him as well and he did not object). Anywho, at the time I was driving my brother's 01 Honda CRV-se with the large front metal crash guard(?). Thankfully the other driver was not injuryed and I limped away with only a few minor scratches and brushes(mainly from the deployment of the airbags, marks on my chest from the seatbeat, and my leg hitting against the lower dash). Nevertheless my car was totaled... The crash guard was completely smashed into where the radiator was and i was leaking coolant everywhere. I loved that car, it had plenty of torque and was very versatile for its size... I nearly weeped as it was being towed away on the flatbed. Because I am also a proud owner of a 91 civic si, my question now is if anyone here were ever involved in a head on collision?
Would I have been able to walk off with only a few minor injuries if it were the civic instead of the cr-v?
The results wouldnt change anything I would still love my civic, I would still continue driving it, and the cr-v would most likely be replaced with another Honda.
Sorry for the long post and thanks to anyone who offers input and response. As for the cr-v, its r.i.p at the local collision center waiting for the insurance company to determind what to do. I will try my best to take and post pictures of the extent of the damage the next time I get to see the car.

[Greenblurr93]

sorry to hear about that, and yes to a degree size does matter, larger vehicles natually have more space for a larger crumple zone. it all depends on how the car is designed.

[lamehonda]

Yeah, if BOTH cars are smaller, you will both be safer. The problem is that everyone want to be safer than the next guy so most people buy large cars. Kinda like game theory.

[Rev_ED7]

Originally Posted by lamehonda

Yeah, if BOTH cars are smaller, you will both be safer. The problem is that everyone want to be safer than the next guy so most people buy large cars. Kinda like game theory.

Thank you for the response. Yes this may be true, back in 01 when my brother purchased the car he had intended to use it during the winter time while his s2000 was in storage. Knowing him, he probably bought the larger car for its versiltily in the snow. (Chicago winters are brutal and my poor hatch with its low stance has gotten stuck in high levels of snow on a number of occasions, resulting in a comical display. Not as comical as watching a RWD Supra TT with its tire spinning around on an icy patch and getting no where at a stop light).

[lamehonda]

Nothing gets ya good snow traction like a couple of twin turbos. lol

[Kunundrum]

if it had been the civic I doubt you would be in any shape to post. Thank God you were in the CRV.

[turtlecrxsi]

Yep, thank your lucky stars you were in the CRV with the crash guard, and you walked away. Most people don't realize it but 45-50mph is fast for a collison especially head on.

[EF You]

i T-boned an f250 diesel in my last EF. going 45mph. he thought he could cut across oncoming traffic. he was wrong. i didnt even have time to hit the brakes.

i was wearing my seatbelt, which kept me from flying through the windshield. both my knees went through the dashboard, i bent the steering wheel from holding it so tightly, and my back somehow hit the ceiling of the car, even with the seatbelt on. i ended up denting the ceiling outward, and bending the steering column.

i immediately got out of the car and onto the median to avoid getting hit again by the cars behind me, and eventually walked across the street to the witnesses. the impact was enough to put the dual point manifold through the firewall, and the radiator was on the valve cover. his truck was hit so hard that it spun a complete 180 into the opposite side of traffic, where he floored it to avoid being hit there, and then shot back across behind my car and to the shoulder of the road. his truck suffered minor damage to the side of the bed, the running board, and shifted his rear axle. mine was a total loss. my stereo, AC controls, and center AC vent flew out of the dash, and every bit of the dash on the drivers side was exploded. also, an AC compressor that i had in the cargo area flew forward, knocking the backseat down, and flew between the two front seats and hit the windshield. it hit less than a foot from where my head would have been. i suffered swelling of the knees, brushburns on my back, and a small cut on my face from the glass when the compressor hit the window. my left knee still gives me trouble, and im still dealing with my lawyer over a lawsuit because his insurance company only wants to pay for my car, not injuries.

cliffnotes: 45mph, T-boned f250 diesel with EF hatch, walked away.

[Rev_ED7]

Wow thats pretty crazy... Sorry to hear about your injuries but that insurance company of his is ridiculous. Which company is that? The other car involved in my accident almost did a 180 as well. I initially thought that he was either dead, or hurt real bad considering the size of my car compared to his and how hard the impact was. Turns out he got out of his car quicker than I did and walk off unscratched.

Also, im a little worried about the seat belts on my hatch... I braked real hard once and the passenger belt didnt seem to lock correctly. My girlfriend nearly slammed her head against the dash. Furthermore, when im driving sometimes I get that beeping noise like either my seat belts unbuckled or my doors not closed tight. But neither was the case. Somethings wrong with the sensor perhaps?? I read on here once that if I contacted Honda about the seat belts, they'd fix it free of charge?

[amy@af]

i had an 86 civic and was t-boned by a 90 civic at approx. 55mph. you wouldn't believe the damage to my civic. the door was pushed in 12"...i ended up with a broken pelvic bone in 3 places.

as for the dumb girl in the 4g, i happened to go to school with her. she ended up with some front end damage to the car but that was it. she was uninjured

i think it really depends on the point of impact and the vehicles in the accident. i don't want to think what my injuries would have been if i were hit by a SUV