NHTSA Complaint #754772 — 1992 UNKNOWN UNKNOWN

WHILE HAULING MY HORSE TRAILER, THE FIBERLGLASS ROOF FLEW OFF OF IT IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC (EASTERN SHORE, MD. THROUGH 495, CAPITAL BELTWAY)SOMETIME BETWEEN 5 AND 8 P.M. ON 11/10/01. MY TRAVEL COMPANION AND I EXPERIENCED NO INDICATION OF THIS OCCURRENCE UNTIL WE STOPPED FOR DINNER. CONTACTED ALL HIGHWAY AND POLICE AUTHORITIES, AND ROOF COULD NOT BE LOCATED. HAD DAMAGED TRAILER EXAMINED BY LOCAL TRAILER REPAIR AUTHORITY AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ROOF WAS ATTACHED WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY CLAIM THAT BECAUSE THE TRAILER IS 9 YO, SUCH AN INCIDENT COULD HAPPEN DUE TO AGE AND WEAR. THE OWNER'S MANUAL MAKES NO INDICATION THAT THE ROOF NEEDS TO BE CHECKED PERIODICALLY FOR POSSIBLE ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS CRITICALLY INJURED AND THAT I WAS NOT TRANSPORTING HORSES, BUT ONLY SADDLES FROM A HORSE SHOW. WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHY THERE APPEARS TO BE NO STANDARD FOR TRAILER SAFETY SINCE THIS CASE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CHARGES AS SERIOUS AS MANSLAUGHTER. WOULD ALSO LIKE RECOURSE, LEGALLY, FOR DAMAGES INCURRED THUS FAR. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.*AK