NHTSA Complaint #10662195 — 1988 VOLVO 740

I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST, KNOCKING ME UNCONSCIOUS AND DAMAGING MY RIGHT EYE AND BREAST AND CAUSING CHEMICAL BURNS ON MY FACE AND NECK. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL AND FOLLOWUP THE FOLLOWING DAY BY EYE SURGEONS AND RETINA SPECIALISTS. I SUSTAINED PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT EYE WHICH RESULTED IN A BLIND-SPOT. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE OR WORK FOR A WEEK. I REQUIRED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS AND AM STILL CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE EYE DOCTOR FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY EYE (WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY RESULT IN GLAUCOMA). VOLVO REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR MADE ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES, MEDICAL OR LOSS OF MY VEHICLE AND STALLED ALL EFFORTS THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, EVEN AFTER INITIALLY INDICATING TO MY ATTORNEY THAT THEY WOULDN'T CONTEST SETTLEMENT. MY VEHICLE WAS 17 YEARS OLD BUT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL-MAINTAINED AND HAD RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE ACCORDING TO ALL VOLVO'S PR CLAIMS. I ENDED UP NOT HAVING MY VEHICLE AT ALL, BECAUSE VOLVO DIRECTED THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL THE CASE WAS SETTLED AND THE STORAGE FEE AT THE SERVICE SHOP ACCUMULATED TO OVER $3600, MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR AND I FINALLY SIGNED THE TITLE OVER TO THE SERVICE SHOP. *TR