NHTSA Complaint #10593692 — 2000 VOLVO V70

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS REAR ENDED AT 45 MPH AND A VOLVO ADVERTISEMENT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SPECIAL SEATS TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN A CRASH OCCURRED. WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED THE CONTACTS HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL, BROKE THE STEERING WHEEL, THE HEAD REST AND THE SEAT. THE IMPACT FROM THE REAR END COLLISION CAUSED THE REAR SEATS TO BE PUSHED CLOSER TOWARDS THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SEATS. THE IMPACT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING A CREASE IN THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE IN A V-SHAPE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT DURING A REAR END CRASH THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND ANOTHER DRIVER PASSING BY CALLED THE AMBULANCE ON HIS BEHALF. THE FIREMAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THEY FOUND HIM UNCONSCIOUS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE, A DEVIATED SEPTUM, A SEVERE CASE OF ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE, AND WAS COMPLETELY INCAPACITATED AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE T7 AND T9 THORACIC VERTEBRAE WERE FRACTURED. THE CRASH HAD CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LIVE WITH A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. THE MANUFACTURER DISPATCHED A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT, THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR HIS ATTORNEY WITH COPIES OF THE REPORT OR PHOTOS TAKEN DURING THE INVESTIGATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 100,000.