# 1998 BMW 323I — AIR BAGS
> NHTSA complaint `1536551` · 2019-02-04 · BMW of North America, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** Yes
- **Vehicle towed:** Yes
## Vehicle
- **Make:** BMW
- **Model:** 323I
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** AIR BAGS
- **Speed:** 5 mph
## Narrative
REPORT#2:06/08/1999, MY LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER,CAUSING MY CAR TO SPIN. I REGAINED MY CORRECT DRIVING PATH.  TO AVOID ADDITIONAL COLLISIONS, I DEPARTED THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT NON-CURBED WET GRASSY ROADSIDE.  TO AVOID STRIKING A WOOD TELEPHONE OR ELECTRICAL POLE, I TURNED SHARPLY RIGHT.  I FIRMLY BRAKED & MY CAR SLID ON WET GRASS, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, MAKING FRONTAL LOW IMPACT WITH A BRICK ROADSIDE WALL. MY CAR FORTUNATELY HAD A AUTOMATIC FRONT SEAT-BELTING SYSTEM FOR MY CLOSED-TOP CONVERTBLE.  MY 2 DAUGHTER PASSENGERS & I WERE ALL SEAT-BELTED.  MY 10 YRS OLD, IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT & MY 4 YR OLD WAS IN THE REAR LEFT PASSENGER SEAT, DIRECTLY BEHIND ME.  WE WERE ALL STARTLED BY THE EVENT. I COULD SEE MY DAUGHTER TO MY RIGHT SIDE WAS UNHARMED. KNOWING WE WOULD ALL NEED TO SOON EXIT THE CAR & I WOULD NEED TO ASSIST MY YOUNGEST, I UNBUCKLED MY SEATBELT. I NEXT TURNED MYSELF TO THE RIGHT, TO CHECK ON MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, BEHIND ME. I SAW SHE WAS OK. I NEXT HEARD A LOUD POP IN FRONT OF ME, SO I TURNED FORWARD TO SEE A SMALL RECTANGULAR PLASTIC PILLOW FILLING WITH AIR. I REALIZED IT MUST BE THE AIRBAG.  NEXT I FELT A EXTREME PAINFUL, FORCEFUL BLOW AGAINST MY FACE & UPPER CHEST.  THE AIRBAG OVER-AGGRESSIVELY DEPLOYED LATE.  THE OVER-AGGRESSIVE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG CAUSED ME TO SUFFER A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, WITH A CURRENT LIFE-THREATENING BRAIN LESION.  MY 2 MANDIBLES JAWS WERE EA.BROKEN IN 4 PLACES, REQUIRING 8 PERM. DENTAL PINS.  EVE
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*