NHTSA Complaint #10705118 — 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY

VEHICLE WITH DRIVER ONLY WAS TRAVELING WEST ON I80 A COUPLE OF MILES BEFORE THE SF OAK BAY BRIDGE IN THE FAR LEFT LANE GOING APPROX 60 MILES PER HOUR (5 MPH BELOW POSTED LIMIT) IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAR IN ADJACENT RIGHT LANE DARTED INTO THE LEFT LANE IN FRONT OF ME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. I HIT THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AND THE ABS ENGAGED BUT SINCE THE CAR TRYING TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT, IMACT OCCURED AT A SPEED LESS THAN 60 MPH. CAR BEHIND ME SLAMMED INTO MY BACK END. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT WHICH I BELEIVE HELPED SAVE MY LIFE BUT INJURIES DID OCCUR. I SUSTAINED SERIOUS HEAD (CONCUSSION), NECK (MUSCLE STRAIN) AND BACK (SPINAL NERVE DAMAGE). HEAD AND NECK INJURIES APPEAR TO HAVE RESOLVED BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE PAIN AND DAMAGE TO BACK (SPINAL AND NERVE) THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT REPORT IS THAT NONE OF THE NUMEROUS AIRBAGS ON THE HONDA ODESSEY DEPLOYED DURING THIS HIGH IMPACT TO BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A GOOD THING OR BAD BUT I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE HELPED MINIMIZE THE INJURIES I INCURRED THE CASE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY (PROGRESSIVE) BUT AT THIS POINT THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THE FAULT OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PERSON THAT SHIFTED LANES IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT IN HIS LANE COMING INTO MY "SAFE ZONE" AS THE POLICE CALLED IT. I ASKED THEM TO HOLD THE CAR FOR INSPECTION BY HONDA AUTHORITIES A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I CALLED HONDA TO REPORT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THEY GAVE ME CASE NUMBER 12015-04-0701544. THEY CALLED YESTERDAY AND SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO CHECK CAR. I FEEL IT IS THEIR OBLIGATION TO SEE IF THERE IS A FLAW IN THE AB'S. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER PARTY TO DIE OR BE INJURED AS A RESULT OF FAULTY AIRBAGS.