NHTSA Complaint #10650290 — 2002 HONDA ACCORD

I WAS TRAVELING HOME IN THE FAR NORTH BOUND LANE GOING 40 MPH AND WAS HIT HEAD ON BY A DODGE DURANGO TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE. (2 LANES EACH WAY WITH A CENTER.) I WAS DRIVING AND THE AIRBAG EXPLODED AS THE DURANGO CUT OFF ANOTHER CAR AND HIT HEAD ONTO ME. THE AIRBAG EXPLOSION PRODUCED A BURNING SMELL WHICH I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE BUT IT WAS THE AIRBAG EXPLOSION. MY FACE WAS VERY RED AND SWOLLEN AND JUST FELT ON FIRE FROM THE EXPLOSION WHICH COVERED MY FACE. I HAD A SCRATCH IN MY LEFT EYE AND NEEDED A RINSE AND A SMALL LACERATION ABOVE MY EYE. MY RIGHT HAND WAS SWOLLEN IMMEDIATELY AND WAS THROBBING FROM THE GRIP OF THE WHEEL AND THE AIRBAG EXPLOSION. MY RIGHT PINKY WAS TOTALLY NUMB FOR QUITE A WHILE WITH RADIATING PAIN UP THE RIGHT ARM. THE RIGHT HAD STILL HAS ISSUES WITH GRASPING THINGS AND DROPPING THEM. I HAD AND STILL HAVE HEADACHES FROM THE JOLT AND NECK INJURY ESPECIALLY IN THE FRONTAL AREA. I NOTICED MY SPEECH BECAME SLURRED AND THOUGHTS TOOK LONGER TO PROCESS WHEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE. ON THE JOB THIS CREATED DIFFICULTY. *TR