NHTSA Complaint #10434296 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAD STOPPED AND WAS WAITING FOR A MAIL CARRIER TO FINISH PUTTING MAIL IN A MAILBOX WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED. THE OTHER DRIVER HIT ME AT HIGH SPEED. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PUSHED INTO THE MAIL CARRIERS VEHICLE---EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. I DON'T BELIEVE I HIT THE MAIL CARRIER AT HIGH SPEED, BUT STILL IT DID CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BACK BUMPER OF HIS VEHICLE AND LIGHT DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER. THE TRUCK THEN REAR-ENDED ME AGAIN DUE TO HIS SPEED AND INABILITY TO STOP. NEITHER AIR BAG IN THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE DAMAGE FROM THE REAR-END HIT. THE ONLY DOOR ON MY VEHICLE THAT OPENED CORRECTLY WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. MY SEAT ON THE FRONT IS APPARENTLY BROKE AND LAYING FLAT. THE CARGO AREA WAS PUSHED INTO THE THIRD SEAT, THE THIRD SEAT INTO THE SECOND SEAT, ETC... I'M NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED OR NOT. BUT, IF THEY SHOULD HAVE THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I BELIEVE MY INJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS SEVERE IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. I HAVE WHAT I GUESS MAY BE CLASSIC WHIPLASH TYPE INJURIES. BACK PAIN, NECK PAIN, AND SHOULDER PAIN; AS WELL AS, MY ELBOW WAS HURT; AND BOTH WRIST FROM TRYING TO GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT MYSELF FROM BEING THROWN INTO THE STEERING COLUMN OR WINDSHIELD DURING THE SECOND HIT FROM THE REAR. ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL ME THAT WILL HELP WITH THESE QUESTIONS? I AM BEING ASKED BY OTHER PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT THE WRECK WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR