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Ok guys....
First, I'd like to thank everyone for the great concern of my mother. She was uninjured EXCEPT for the friction burns on her arms from the airbag. She was driving in a parking lot at about 15mph, and somehow she hit a light pole (the ones with the 3ft diameter concrete around it). Her and my little 12 yr old brother were both wearing seatbelts, and both airbags deployed. My brother was sitting close to the windshield, and in return suffered a broken nose and bad scrapes all over his face from the airbag.
Second, Allstate came out and estimated the damage at, no bulls**t, 14000. After making the appropriate supplements, the damage will exceed 17000 or 18000.
The reason damage is so high: this car is designed so that in the event of a frontal collision, the frame folds downward and pushes the engine UNDER the passenger compartment as opposed to INTO the passenger compartment. I'm sure you've all heard of "crumple-zones." 70 hours of labor were allocated to the frame repair. Also, both airbags popped as well as both seat belt automatic tensioners. Windshield was shattered by the dash part covering the passenger airbag. The trim inside the car that covers the roof pillars is also cracked. No MAIN motor damage. Radiator, A/C condenser, compressor, powersteering pump are destroyed.
The Verdict: If this were a 55mph or higher accident, it would saved my family's lives. But at this minimal speed, more damage was done to both the occupants and the car than necessary.
I'll post pictures when the car is finished.
Peter
My conclusion,
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