NHTSA Complaint #766626 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I RECEIVED A SEVERE RIGHT FOREARM FRACTURE, REQUIRING SURGERY, FROM A DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN A PARKING LOT AND MY CAR WAS ALMOST STOPPED AT THE TIME. TWO FINGERS WERE ALSO BROKEN/DISLOCATED. I SPENT 3 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WILL HAVE MONTHS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY TO ENDURE. I WANT THIS ON RECORD SO IF OTHERS HAVE BEEN INJURED, THE AIRBAGS WILL BE INVESTIGATED. I AM WILLING TO SHARE X-RAYS, MEDICAL RECORDS, ETC. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY SAID SINCE I WAS HONKING THE HORN AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, IT'S BASICALLY MY FAULT. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE BODY IS IN THE WAY WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS, INJURY MAY OCCUR, BUT SUCH A SEVERE INJURY AS A CONSEQUENCE FOR HONKING THE HORN, SEEMS EXTREME TO ME. I THINK THE AIRBAG MAY HAVE DEPLOYED TOO FAST. PLEASE COMPARE MY CASE TO OTHERS' SO OTHER VW DRIVERS WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I AM RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.*AK