NHTSA Complaint #10375196 — 2009 FORD FUSION

I WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2009 FORD FUSION SEDAN. I AM A STATE EMPLOYEE AND I WAS TRAVELING WITH A COWORKER, WHO WAS DRIVING. WE WERE LEGALLY STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US TO TURN LEFT. WE WERE REAR-ENDED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER ESTIMATED BY POLICE ON THE SCENE TO HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. THE MAJORITY OF THE IMPACT WAS ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. UPON IMPACT, I WAS THRUST FORWARD, THEN BACKWARD, AND THE SEAT BACK BROKE. I WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED BY TWO NEUROLOGISTS AS HAVING POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. AN INVESTIGATOR HIRED BY MY ATTORNEY CONCLUDED UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR THAT THE SEAT BACK SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I WAS SEATED PROPERLY WITH BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR AND I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR