NHTSA Complaint #10592090 — 1997 FORD ESCORT

MY MOTHER AND I WERE DRIVING TO MY GRANDPARENTS HOUSE WHEN SHE HIT A BABY DEER GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HITTING ME IN RIGHT SIDE OF THE FACE. MY TEETH WENT INTO MY LIP, AND I HAD BURN MARKS FROM THE AIRBAG ON MY CHEEKBONES, AND CHIN, ALSO MY RIGHT EYE WAS SWOLLEN SHUT THE NEXT DAY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE THE POLICE OFFICER INFORMED MY MOTHER THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. HE SAID THE AIRBAGS WERE SO SENSITIVE THAT HE COULD HAVE KICKED THE BUMPER AND THEY WOULD HAVE WENT OFF. MY MOTHER ONLY RECEIVED A BROKEN FINGER FROM WHERE HER HANDS WERE RESTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *JS