I was involved in an accident that was my fault. The cops told us they couldn't come and to submit accident reports.
I'm considering paying for her repairs out of my pocket. Anyone have any idea what it would cost to repair/replace airbags in a 2003 Mustang? The rest of the car seems ok.

Sounds like you just bought yourself a 2003 Mustang!

Care to elaborate?

How is it all you'd have to fix are the airbags? If the airbags deployed I'm assuming the Mustang needs far more replaced.

If it isn't a Terminator, the bags may cost more than the car.

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If it isn't a Terminator, the bags may cost more than the car.

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This, whether or not it is an '03 cobra or not is vital information!

It's a standard mustang. I understand there may be some internal damage but according to the lady who was driving the car, the car drives fine (she drove it home since the cops never showed) hopefully meaning the frame is fine. She was going probably 20 mph and I was maybe going 5 mph.
I figured it might not be too expensive to not report it to my insurance but was hoping maybe the total bill would be under $3k.

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I figured it might not be too expensive to not report it to my insurance but was hoping maybe the total bill would be under $3k.

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Unless you have a really high deductible, your premiums would have to go up quite a bit to justify 3 grand out of pocket. That's why you have insurance.

off topic: cops can just decline to show up?

I give it a 99% chance that the car is totaled meaning you could buy her a comparable car cheaper than fixing all of her car's damage. Besides the body damage that I guarantee is there, the air bag system will probably need lots of parts replaced. I would have to look up that car but lots of time the seat belts and air bag system computer or module must be replaced as well as the bags themselves. Sometimes the dash has to be replaced as well.

Going outside of insurance might make sense for < $1000 mistakes..

Airbags will easily be $2000 with the associated infrastructure not counting whatever other panel damage..

Thanks for the input. What I was afraid of.

If you hit her car, then your insurance will pay for repair/replacement from her car with no out of pocket cost to you.

Of course your premiums might increase but thats another topic.

The main point I wanted to get across is, you're better off letting your insurance handle it. If you were at fault, admit fault.

If you fix her car, then later she can come back and bring up all kinds of crap, medical injuries, pain and suffering, rental car, loss of use etc.

Airbags alone will be around 2 grand, unless you buy used, then you still have to consider the SRS inflator has to be reset, and you have liability if you buy used.

We're not even into what happens if you start getting into structural damage behind the bumper cover. I.e. crash bar, absorber, bent core support etc. Just because it "drives fine" doesnt mean that it needs a unibody straightening or you have a bent strut tower. This all has to go on the frame machine to verify.

I'm guessing a 13 year old V6 mustang MAYBE has a fair value of 2500-3000 Dollars. But for your own liability, you may be safer sending this to your insurance company.

Thanks, appreciate the advice.

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off topic: cops can just decline to show up?

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Yes they consider a waste of time. Never mind it's their job. Moral of the story - Take a ton of pictures you're on your own.

If I remember correctly of the SN95s... once the airbags deploy the "frame" (Unibody) is compromised. My brother totaled a couple back in the day.

If the bags blew, hand it over to your insurance company. As 1ags said, lots of potential liability and you'll need waivers of rights and liability releases signed by the victim before being paid.

Thanks again. She still hasn't provided insurance information so I think it's now pretty clear she didn't have any at the time of the accident. She can lose her license for up to a year. I also think the fault is more 50-50 so I'm not sure what will happen.

Offer to meet her at the police station and file a report.....

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Thanks again. She still hasn't provided insurance information so I think it's now pretty clear she didn't have any at the time of the accident. She can lose her license for up to a year. I also think the fault is more 50-50 so I'm not sure what will happen.

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If you even believe this a little bit you should absolutely file a claim. The sooner the better.

Yup. Have already contacted my insurance company and am filing report today.

Thanks for doing good work getting another uninsured motorist off the road. Sorry you had to get in an accident to get it done. Hope it works out okay for you.