I WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY A 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH. THE IMPACT PUSHED MY CAMRY INTO THE REAR OF A 1989 FORD IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAMRY MADE CONTACT WITH THE FORD ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DIRECTLY NEAR THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN MY FRONT LEFT BUMPER AREA. UPON IMPACT BY THE NISSAN IN MY REAR, MY DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD, CAUSING ME TO SLIDE FORWARD UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL. THE SEATBELT FAILED TO PROPERLY TENSE UP, CAUSING ME TO INJURE MY RIGHT KNEE AND MY ABDOMEN. I WAS THE ONLY DRIVER INJURED IN THIS 3-CAR ACCIDENT, BUT THE EXTENT OF MY INJURIES HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN THE 1996 NISSAN DEPLOYED PROPERLY, AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG IN THE 1989 FORD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY HIT FROM THE REAR BY MY CAMRY. TOYOTA USA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT, AND HAS ASSURED ME THEY WILL INSPECT MY VEHICLE THIS WEEK. OBVIOUSLY, I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT SHOULD NOT HAVE COLLAPSED BACKWARD.