NHTSA Complaint #11259103 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

I WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH THROUGH A CITY STREET INTERSECTION WHEN I RAN OVER AN UNCOVERED WATER VALVE PIPE IN A DEPRESSION SIMILAR TO, BUT SMALLER THAN, A STANDARD MANHOLE WELL. EACH LEFT TIRE RAN OVER THE UNCOVERED WATER VALVE. THERE WAS A LOUD POP, AND I BLACKED OUT. THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT AFTER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SUSTAINED DAMAGE THAT RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE SHORTLY THEREAFTER. ALSO, THE AIR BAG IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT DEPLOYED AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD, CAUSING ME TO BLACK OUT, AND PRODUCING AMNESIA AND OTHER MENTAL SYMPTOMS THAT LINGERED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IN ADDITION, I SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES FROM WHIPLASH. THE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY AN UNDER-WHEEL IMPACT AT SUCH A LOW SPEED.