NHTSA Complaint #10151784 — 2005 DODGE NEON

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 DODGE NEON ON HWY. 50 WHEN A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 MADE AN UNSAFE LANE CHANGE IN FRONT OF OUR CAR. THE DRIVER OF THE DAKOTA SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES BEFORE BEING COMPLETELY IN MY SON'S LANE AND MY SON REAR-ENDED THE DAKOTA (FRONT END DAMAGE, MOST OF WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE DAKOTA'S TRAILER HITCH PUNCHING THROUGH OUR NEON--TRAILER HITCH ENTERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NEON'S LICENSE PLATE BY ABOUT A FOOT). AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SHOULD HAVE. MY SON WAS WEARING HIS SAFETY BELT AND DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, HIS KNEES WERE RAMMED INTO THE DASH. AT TIME OF IMPACT, MY SON BELIEVES HE WAS GOING ABOUT 20 MPH. DAMAGE TO THE NEON, ACCORDING TO CAL STATE AUTO AND GEICO, IS $7400.00. MY SON HAD SORE KNEES AND A WRENCHED BACK PLUS A VERY SORE CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT BEING THE ONLY THING THAT HELD HIM IN PLACE (COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE). *NM