NHTSA Complaint #10381344 — 2009 DODGE JOURNEY

I WAS SITTING STOPPED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON 06.17.2008 ON HWY 270. A TRUCK TRAVELING AT APPROX 60 MPH HIT THE REAR OF THE JOURNEY . THE TRUCK REMAINED CONNECTED AND PUSHED THE JOURNEY FORWARD INTO 3 ADDITIONAL CARS AND ONE PICKUP TRUCK. MOST VEHICLES SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE AND ME AND TWO OTHERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO EMERGENCY ROOMS. THE POLICE REPORT INDICATED 86' OF SKID MARKS AND THE TRUCK DRIVER WAS TICKETED + ASSIGNED 100% BLAME. MY INJURIES INCLUDED CHEST COMPRESSION, BRIEFLY BLACKED-OUT, HEAVY BRUISING FROM THE LEFT SHOULDER TO THE LEFT KNEE, STRAINED NECK AND NERVE DAMAGE. PRE-ACCIDENT I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND WEARING THE SEAT BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS. POST ACCIDENT MY UPPER BODY WAS AGAINST THE DRIVER DOOR WITH THE STEERING WHEEL COMPRESSED AGAINST MY CHEST. THE FRONT AND SIDE JOURNEY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT PREVENT ME FROM BEING THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I DID NOT HAVE SEAT BELT BURN MARKS THAT MAY BE EXPECTED FROM A HIGH SPEED MULTIPLE IMPACT ACCIDENT OF THIS KIND. THE JOURNEY TRAVELED APPROX 60' AFTER IMPACT WAS SUBJECT TO 1 HARD IMPACT TO THE REAR AND 4 HARD IMPACTS TO THE FRONT. THE JOURNEY REPAIRS COST $15,000. IT HAS BEEN 2.5 YEARS SINCE THE ACCIDENT AND I HAVE CRONIC PAIN AND LOSS OF MOTION IN THE NECK. *TR