NHTSA complaint: 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON 4/12/01 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING ON I-75N AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE. TRAFFIC BEING HEAVY IN ALL LANES.. ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING NORTH IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AT A SLOWER SPEED PULLED OVER INTO MY LANE WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THIS VEHECLE. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT MY DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BUT DIDN'T FULLY INFLATE.ON IMPACT TO THE LEFT REAR AND SIDE PANEL OF THE OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT I WAS THROWN FORWAED ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE THIS AIRBAG DIDN'T INFLATE ALTHOUGH IT WAS TRIGGERED BY THE SENSERS TO DEPLOY, CAUSED ME TO RECEIVE MY INJURIES. HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE FORD MOTER CONSUMER DIVISION TO WHICH THEIR REPLY WAS I WOULD HAVE TO GET MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO LITIGATE ANY COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES. AFTER TALKING WITH THEM, AND AFTER THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL FORMALLY RECORDED EVERYTHING! INCLUDING TAKING PHOTOGRAPH OF THE COLLISION AND ALSO THE FAILED AIRBAG! I FIND MYSELF POSSIBLY LOSING THE SIGHT OF AN EYE AS A RESULT OF TRUAMA TO THE HEAD THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THIS AIRBAG HAD FULLY DEPLOYED. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH IS THE FACT THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FULLY DEPLOYED AND INFLATED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF MY RIGHTS TO ANY LIABILITY REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THIS AIRBAG . WHAT RECOURSE CAN I TAKE AND WHO CAN YOU ADVISE I CONTAC
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation