NHTSA Complaint #10514562 — 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE. TRAFFIC. IM IN THE FAR LANE ON THE BELTWAY AND MY EXITS COMING UP. MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE. HEAVY TRAFFIC TOO BUT ITS MOVING. I CANT CUT OFF THE MOTORCYCLES. SO I WAIT TO PASS THEM. IM MERGING, LOOKING TO THE SIDE, LOOKING BEHIND ME. I WASN'T PAYING TO MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS COMING UP IN FRONT OF ME. I MEAN, WHAT ELSE IS THERE BUT CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THAT'S ALL I NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR RIGHT? SO I THOUGHT. I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT LANE, MERGING INTO EXIT LANE. "OH NO!" THERE'S A CURB. A TRIANGLE CURB RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I SWERVE TO MY LEFT. REAR RIGHT TIRE HITS THE CURB AND TAKES LIFT OFF. AND SO DOES THE CAR, RIGHT INTO THE CENTER OF THE BELTWAY. I HAVE IT, I CAN FEEL ME GAINING CONTROL. THEN I FEEL THE FRONT TIRES LOOSE IT. AND THERE'S THE WALL. SMACK. FACE FIRST. SPIN AROUND ONE GOOD TIME. ROLL TO A STOP PERFECTLY ON THE SMALL SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. WELL IM STICKING OUT A LITTLE BUT IM OUT OF THE WAY. NO ONE HIT ME. NO OTHER ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED. ONLY ONE COUPLE STOPPED BUT THAT'S OK. AND ONLY AFTER THE SHAKING WORE OFF, AND I STOPPED CRYING DID I REALIZE. "HEY, WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS GO OFF?" THIS WAS A PRETTY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE'S FRAME DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR. TOTALED! EVERYONE WAS OK. NECK PAINS AND A BRUISED KNEE. BUT CONSIDERING THE CONDITIONS OF THIS ACCIDENT, IT COULD HAVE GONE WAY WORST. AND NO AIRBAGS? *TR