Is my car a total loss… and should my airbags have gone off?

2023 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD.

I was driving at 40 mph when someone slid through a stop sign and hit me at about 20 mph. It’s going to take a while for insurance to check the damage, so I’d love to hear some opinions and maybe learn a thing or two.

I don’t know much about cars, so please keep it simple and easy to understand.

(Tow company thinks it’s probably totaled because the A-frame has some damage, and they can’t get a good look at the B-frame yet but suspect it’s messed up too. They also said they would have expected the airbags to deploy.)

Yeah, they’ll probably total it.

Tracy said:
Yeah, they’ll probably total it.

Most likely, and the airbags probably wouldn’t have gone off from this angle, especially if no one was in the passenger seat.

That car is done for.

Can I grab your wheel caps?

Airbags are designed to reduce serious injuries in a crash. The way they decide whether to deploy depends on factors that car companies don’t really share. So the real question is… are you still here? If so, they worked as intended.

@Jade
Really? ‘Closely guarded’ like it’s some top-secret recipe? I also have a ‘closely guarded’ method for making a ham sandwich. It’s locked away on the blockchain, with the key hidden across five continents. The last word is buried in a Florida swamp full of gators… and for extra security, we added pythons and some really aggressive geese.

But yeah, airbags usually deploy if the impact angle is right.

@Jade
Didn’t know that. I always thought there was some set rule for when airbags deploy. Interesting.

Totaled? Maybe. That’s for insurance to decide. Airbags? Not from that angle.

So… can I have your rims?

Airbags aren’t a guarantee, but if the tow company thinks it’s totaled, they might be right. I had a Kia Forte GT with similar damage, and it was written off after someone ran a red light.

Most cars now have crumple zones, and your damage seems to be in one of those areas. Just looking at it, I’d guess repairs could be anywhere from $13k to $28k once everything is taken apart.

Parts that might be damaged:

  • Tire
  • Rim
  • Tie rod
  • Ball joint
  • Lower control arm
  • Steering knuckle
  • Wheel hub
  • ABS sensor
  • Wheel well
  • Side panel
  • Door
  • Brake line
  • Caliper and bracket
  • TPMS sensor
  • Wheel speed sensor
  • Auto hold brake system (common in Kias)

Shops and insurance companies don’t like to spend on disassembling and reassembling stuff, so they usually just replace everything around the damaged area. If you owned the car, you’ll probably get a payout. If you leased it… well, that’s a different story.

Yeah, that car is done, man.

If insurance declares it totaled, just make sure they’re giving you a fair value for it. Sometimes they lowball you, so be ready to push back if needed.