My experience with Tesla Model X safety

3627 Views 26 Replies 18 Participants Last post by scottf200, Dec 22, 2017

scottf200

Discussion Starter · Jun 17, 2017

Last year I took at trip by myself out to SD for a Tesla car meetup. This year my youngest son went with me. We had a great trip as we hit SD then went up the western side of MT. We hiked and drove to various stunningly beautiful places while on our way to visit friends and family.

We were on our way home and the first full day of driving on June 6th about 9pm another car hit a deer (flew up?) and subsequently came though our windshield hitting me in the left eye area. Apparently I then drove off the road and hit a tree. This was northeast WY so I was likely doing 70 or 75 mph.

My son exited the passenger door, opened my drivers door, realized I was in a bad situation which he should not move me, and he opened the driver side Falcon Wing Door. There he retrieved his phone from his backpack, called 911, and lead them to us.

My injuries are from the deer and are to my left eye and socket. These are on-going medical problems we are working through.

My son only had some minor scrapes (no stitches). The rest of my body seems 100% with only some scratches.

To say that I am blessed and thankful that the car protected us is a tremendous understatement. Modern cars are built well but I am certainly happy that Tesla takes safety so seriously.

(The car insurance result is still not determined. I'm not driving yet, but we still have two Volts and I will likely be driving our 2011 one while my son goes back to college this fall).

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1 - 20 of 27 Posts

DonC

· #2 · Jun 17, 2017

That is simply terrible Scott. Best wishes for your continuing recovery. Hope those get resolved.

Ladogaboy

· #3 · Jun 17, 2017

Glad you and your son made it through that. Deer are dangerous animals to hit for the very reason you just described. They have a tendency to roll up the hood and through the windshield.

For obvious reasons, people focus on Tesla's EV components, but in my opinion, the structural engineering of their vehicles is their biggest strength.

saghost

· #4 · Jun 17, 2017

Wow!! Glad you're (mostly) okay!

Deer are always dangerous. I keep hoping that AP will learn to recognize and avoid them one of these days; the sensors can probably see it, and a couple cars are claiming some ability now - but if the deer is already airborne that's a whole other problem.

Steverino

· #5 · Jun 17, 2017

Oh no!! I'm so sorry to hear this Scott. I'm very hopeful for your recovery. I remember how happy you were with that beautiful X when you graciously gave me a test ride some months back. A deer strike of any sort can easily total a car.

Kraven

· #6 · Jun 17, 2017

That's a great testament to the build quality, despite some fit and finish shortcomings I've heard about the Model X (door alignment primarily). The protection it offered in that high velocity impact is remarkable.

It's interesting to note that your son being with you may have saved your life. I see that the prior year you did that trip alone. I think you are well aware of this as you point this out in the first two sentences of the story. Glad you and your son made it through mostly OK and best wishes for a full recovery!

BAZINGA

· #7 · Jun 17, 2017

You, your son and family must be relieved you survived what could have been a horrible accident. It's been widely reported just how well built Tesla's are and you and your son are LIVING PROOF. Safety can't be seen until it's too late, thank god Tesla takes safety seriously.

Hope you heal quickly and your MX is either repaired or replaced quickly.

scottf200

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 17, 2017

My sincere thanks for all of the thoughtful and caring replies. I feel incredibly fortunate. I am ever so thankful for my son's health and that he was with me. More doctor/specialist visits early next week and, secondly, hope to get some details from the car insurance.

Fourdoor

· #9 · Jun 17, 2017

Most interesting and praisworthy part of that story is that all three doors that your son used opened up without binding after a high speed impact with a tree... that is pretty amazing.

Keith

jbakerjonathan

· #10 · Jun 18, 2017

I'm so sorry for your unlucky experience. I hope you recover speedily and completely. Did the car have any sort of automatic braking and did it react to the flying deer and/or tree? You were lucky to have cell phone signal in that sparse area of Wyoming, on I-90 I assume. My best to you.

Mister Dave

· #11 · Jun 18, 2017

Wow Scott, that really sucks rocks. Very sorry to hear about your eye. Much more important than the car. I hope you recover well from this.

bro1999

· #12 · Jun 18, 2017

Damn, glad you're (mostly) ok.
Curious, does Tesla not have some OnStar-like emergency service?

Upper5Percent

· #13 · Jun 18, 2017

Geez...well, hopefully you will heal up and this will become just an anecdote to tell at Tesla get-togethers...

Stay safe...

scottf200

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 18, 2017 (Edited)

Indeed I am thankful for my health. Aside from my eye, I have just a few scrapes (no non facial stitches) and no other body aches or pains. Aside from my eye you would have no idea I was in an accident. You could not tell my son was in an accident and complains of no pain in any part of his body.

jbakerjonathan said:
I'm so sorry for your unlucky experience. I hope you recover speedily and completely. Did the car have any sort of automatic braking and did it react to the flying deer and/or tree? You were lucky to have cell phone signal in that sparse area of Wyoming, on I-90 I assume. My best to you.

Thank you. As far as I know the deer into the windshield did not set off sensors. The tree (bumper) would kicked them all off and provided a 'cocoon' of airbags. My son and officer confirmed we ended up against a tree (very few in the area). Our Verizon coverage on all our trips has been very good.

KenC

· #15 · Jun 18, 2017

Terribly bad luck. Hope you make a full recovery!

llninja

· #16 · Jun 18, 2017

Really glad you made it. Those pics look downright scary, including the hole in the windshield where the flying deer entered. Now I have the urge to look for a Hummer and add armor plating to it like in Mad Max - or just stay home and not drive or go anywhere...

Praying for your speedy and full recovery.

LLninja

madmike

· #17 · Jun 18, 2017

So sorry this happened to you and glad the car took care of you. I know you must have a lot going on right now and I hope you can concentrate on just recovering!

srmarti

· #18 · Jun 19, 2017

Unfortunate that it came through the windshield. I don't think that Tesla is any more liable to have that happen than any other vehicle though.

llninja

· #19 · Jun 19, 2017

srmarti said:
Unfortunate that it came through the windshield. I don't think that Tesla is any more liable to have that happen than any other vehicle though.

It certainly makes me think twice about driving a convertible, a T-top, targa top, or one of those cars where you can open a giant sunroof nearly all the way open. I think I saw a Lincoln on the road playing with their sunroof last fall where the entire roof was glass and the roof slid all the way back over the rear window. Of course it's not every day that you have to worry about flying deer. But it could have been anything flying. When I was about 10 years old, a giant truckload of railroad ties spilled all over the highway causing flying damage to dozens of vehicles including popped tires, broken windows, and holy cars. it happened in front of us, so we crept through the aftermath.

Bluesideup

· #20 · Jun 20, 2017

Glad to hear that you are ok for the most part. Also be glad with what you were driving as it could have been much worse.

The model X just received a perfect 5 star safety rating in every category by the NHTSA. It was also the first and only SUV to ever do it.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/13/technology/tesla-model-x-safety-rating/index.html

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