NHTSA Complaint #11230186 — 2016 FORD FUSION

ON TUESDAY (JULY 2ND) MORNING I BACKED MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND INTO THE RESIDENTIAL STREET. I STOPPED APPROX. 4-5 FEET PAST MY MAILBOX - ENOUGH FOR MY CAR DOOR TO CLEAR - TO GET MY MAIL. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, GOT OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE MAILBOX AND WAS GETTING THE MAIL WHEN THE CAR HIT ME AND KNOCKED ME DOWN. IT WAS MOVING IN REVERSE. THE RESIDENTIAL STREET IS PRETTY LEVEL. I GOT UP AND TRIED TO CATCH IT BUT IT PICKED UP SPEED AND THEN KNOCKED ME DOWN AGAIN. I DID NOT REALIZE IT AT THE TIME BUT I HAD ALREADY BROKEN MY RIGHT ELBOW IN THE FIRST FALL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT RAN INTO AND DESTROYED A NEIGHBOR'S MAILBOX AND WAS STOPPED. MY RIGHT ELBOW SUSTAINED A SECOND BREAK WHICH REQUIRED REPAIR WITH A PLATE/SCREWS/WIRES AND I WAS TOLD I WILL NEVER REGAIN PRE-ACCIDENT USAGE OF MY PREDOMINANT HAND AND ARM. I HAD SEVERAL LARGE CONTUSIONS ON MY FACE WHICH ARE STILL PRESENT A WEEK LATER. I HAVE A PLATE-SIZED BLACK BRUISE ON MY INNER RIGHT THIGH. MY LEFT LEG IS HEAVILY BRUISED WITH A LARGE WOUND AND THE INNER AND OUTER SIDES OF MY LEFT FOOT ARE BLACK WITH BRUISING. I HAVE BRUISING AND SCRAPES AND CUTS IN MULTIPLE PLACES. I BELIEVE THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. IF I HAD NOT PUT IT IN PARK, IT WOULD HAVE STARTED ROLLING IMMEDIATELY AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND GOT OUT OF IT. INSTEAD IT HIT ME COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. I SPENT ALMOST 3 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND LOOKED AT. THERE IS A CURRENT FORD RECALL FOR THIS GEAR ISSUE FOR CARS FROM THE SAME FACTORY MINE CAME FROM AND THE ASSEMBLY YEAR. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS OF YET BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.