A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle, which can prevent a pillar garnish from scattering when an air bag installed in a front pillar portion is expanded, is provided. An air bag 16 is housed within a space formed by a front pillar main body 38 and a pillar garnish 40 in a front pillar portion 20. When the air bag 16 expands, the pillar garnish 40 is pressed by an expanding pressure of the air bag 16, so that an opening for expanding the air bag 16 is formed between the front pillar main body 38 and the pillar garnish 40, and the air bag 16 expands into a vehicle cabin through the opening. Since a non-expanding portion is formed at the air bag 16 and a hinge portion 46 is formed at the pillar garnish 40, the expanding pressure applied to the pillar garnish 40 when the air bag 16 expand is low, so that the pillar garnish 40 can be easily opened through the hinge portion 46.