1. A method for controlling the triggering of at least one vehicle occupant protection component of a motor vehicle occupant protection system in the event of an impact, which comprises: providing an accident sensor and a control unit evaluating output signals of the accident sensor; classifying an impact type by the output signals of the accident sensor with an impact type classification section; including in a triggering algorithm parameters depending on the impact type; and firing the at least one vehicle occupant protection component according to the triggering algorithm.