NHTSA Complaint #10722293 — 2012 GMC CANYON

IN FRESNO, CA AT 5:30 P.M., I WAS HEADING EAST ON SHAW AVE., A THREE LANE STREET, NEAR BRAWLEY AVE. A VAN, WAITING FOR CROSS TRAFFIC AT THE CENTER ISLAND, SUDDENLY JOLTED INTO THREE LANES OF HEAVY CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC. THE CAR DRIVER IN THE FIRST LANE SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AND STOPPED SAFELY. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE AND UNABLE TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT, SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND CRASHED BROADSIDE, TOTALING BOTH VEHICLES. MY AIRBAG EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. I SUSTAINED A HEAD AND ANKLE WOUND ABOVE MY LEFT EYE AND ABRASIONS AND BURNS ON BOTH HANDS AND ARMS. MY RIGHT SHOULDER SUSTAINED MUSCLE TEARS FROM THE EXPLOSIVE BAG. THE DRIVER IN LANE ONE, A WITNESS, REPORTED THE VAN'S UNSAFE LEFT TURN, TO THE ATTENDING POLICE WOMAN, WHO FILED A REPORT AND PROVIDED AN INCIDENT NUMBER. I WAS IN SHOCK AND DID NOT KNOW I HAD BEEN BLEEDING ABOVE THE EYE, SHOULDER INJURY, OR CUT ANKLE, NOW SCARRED, UNTIL I GOT HOME AND FELT PAIN AND BLOODY SOCKS, ABOUT 90 MINUTES LATER. I REFUSED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT ON THE SPOT, BUT SELF-ADMINISTERED FIRST AID AT HOME, AND WENT IN TO REPORT THE ABRASIONS,BURNS, AND SHOULDER INJURY, TO MY DOCTOR, AS SOON AS I COULD ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT. A SUBSEQUENT MRI REVEALED MICRO-MUSCULAR TEARS IN THE IMPACTED SHOULDER MUSCLE. THIS 2012 GMC CANYON(TOTALED BY CSAA) WAS RECALLED FOR A HOODLATCH AND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. IT IS PROBABLY INCLUDED IN THE IN THE CURRENT AIR BAG RECALL, BUT NOT POSTED YET--5/28/15? I HAVE ANOTHER 2012 CANYON, WHICH REPLACED THE FIRST, AND SUSPECT I HAVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS? *TR