NHTSA Complaint #11033873 — 2017 AUDI A4 ALLROAD

AFTER PARKING MY CAR, MY DAUGHTER, THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT BACK SEAT, OPENED THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. SHE SUDDENLY FELT ACUTE PAIN ON THE TOP OF HER FOOT AND SAW BLOOD GUSHING OUT OF IT. I WENT TO HER SIDE OF THE CAR AND SAW AN AVULSION OF THE SKIN ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE FOOT, AND BLOOD ALL OVER THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND THE DOOR. A SHARP PIECE OF METAL TRIM LABELED "BANG & OLUFSON" (SEE PHOTO) HAD SEMI-DETACHED FROM THE DOOR PANEL AND LACERATED HER FOOT, PIERCING THROUGH HER FOOT AND COMING OUT BETWEEN HER TOES. THIS METAL TRIM PIECE LOOKED LIKE A SHARP KNIFE BLADE, AND HAD COME OUT OF ITS GLUED SPOT ON THE DOOR, STICKING OUT AT A 25-30 DEGREE ANGLE. I PUT PRESSURE ON THE WOUND AND REMOVED THE PIECE FROM THE CAR TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURY, CUTTING MYSELF IN THE PROCESS. IT WAS COVERED WITH BLOOD. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE HER TO THE ER AT MERCY HOSPITAL. DR. MILLER, A PLASTIC SURGEON, SPENT 2 HOURS CLEANING THE WOUND, PULLING THE FLAYED SKIN BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, AND STITCHING TENDONS AND BLOOD VESSELS THAT WERE AFFECTED IN THE INJURY. HE PLACED CONTINUOUS ABSORBABLE SUTURES THE LENGTH OF THE WOUND. (SEE PHOTO) SHE WAS DISCHARGED WITH ORDERS NOT TO WALK OR PUT ANY WEIGHT ON THE FOOT, EXCEPT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS. THE DOCTOR TOLD HER SHE MAY LOSE THE SKIN ON THE FOOT AND MAY HAVE TO RECEIVE SKIN GRAFTS TO REPAIR THE WOUND. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND IT IS STILL UNKNOWN WHETHER SHE WILL HAVE PERMANENT SCARRING OR PAIN, OR IF SHE WILL REGAIN FULL FUNCTIONING OF THE FOOT. SHE HAS UNDERGONE A COURSE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND REMAINED ON BED REST FOR 30 DAYS SINCE THE INCIDENT. THE SHARP METAL BLADE WAS ONLY GLUED ON THE DOOR SURFACE, WITH NO SCREWS TO ATTACH IT TO THE DOOR. THIS IS WHAT APPEARED TO CAUSE THIS BLADE TO DETACH FROM THE DOOR AND STAB INTO MY DAUGHTER'S FOOT.