NHTSA Complaint #10562903 — 2009 HONDA FIT

DRIVING SOLO, SPEED BELOW THE 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT, IN LEFT LANE OF A FOUR LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY (STATE HIGHWAY 1, SOUTHBOUND, APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE BEFORE AIRPORT BL EXIT). HIGHWAY WAS BEING REPAVED. LEFT LANE WAS FINISHED,AND ASPHALT RAISED BETWEEN 4 AND 6 INCHES ABOVE RIGHT LANE. STEERED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WENT PARTIALLY OFF THE RAISED PAVEMENT ONTO THE OLD PAVEMENT. STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW CORRECTION TO BE MADE TO THE LEFT. NO STEERING CONTROL AT ALL. STEERING LOCKED IN POSITION AND RESISTED ALL EFFORTS BY DRIVER TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL FROM FIXED POSITION. VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD ONTO THE UNPAVED SHOULDER AND DID A COMPLETE ROLLOVER. SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ROOF CRUSHED AND EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE - JUDGED TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER SUFFERED SEVERE FRACTURES OF THE LEFT ARM AND WRIST REQUIRING SURGERY, AND MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS. LENGTHY PHYSICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION REQUIRED AND SUFFERS PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT OF LEFT ARM. *TR