Serious injury on van step
Hi All
We own a Knaus motorhome, 2017 model. We were at Glastonbury earlier this year having a great time when on the final day, my Wife, Kath, injured the back of her leg extremely seriously on exiting the motorhome. The step retracted, trapping her leg against the metal underneath, causing a wound to the bone just above her Achilles’ tendon. The wound required 8 stitches from a fantastic doctor in the Glastonbury field hospital. We have been told by Knaus, and our local dealer Don Amott, that this has never happened before in their experience. We find this difficult to understand and would like to ask the members if they know of any similar incidents? The step is a motor assisted Project step.
Comments
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Sorry to read of your mishap but thanks for the warning. I know of no similar incidents but do know that caravan and motorhome steps are the cause of many accidents. Some steps are notably unstable and they can be very slippery in the wet and of course the drop can be variable and catch you out.
peedee
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Suggest you post on Motorhome dedicated forums such as Motorhome Fun (first 5 posts free) and Motorhome Matters Out & About Live (free).
Accidents with steps are not unknown but I've never known one you experienced. You may need to claim.
Best wishes with full recovery and full enjoyment of your van.
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Our 'step' button is bottom in a line of switches on the side of the kitchen unit by the door and, as above, could possibly be inadvertently pressed in a hand is outstretched for support...
not suggesting that's it, but certainly could happen.
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The step button is just above floor level so we are sure that accidental pressing didn’t cause it. It happened so quickly that Kath hasn’t really got a full recollection of what happened. What undoubtedly did happen is that the step retracted. There is a possibility that it wasn’t fully out. You can partially put the step out by not holding the button for long enough. It has made us extremely careful knowing that the step can cause serious injury. We have had no real engagement from Knaus, no help with recovery or ongoing issues and no apology. Be careful all!
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I'm sorry to hear this happened but I think it unrealistic to expect help or an apology from a supplier or manufacturer as to do so would be tantamount to them admitting liability.
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I think you have hit the nail on the head with the final sentence. I guess it’s really up to us to be careful and ensure the step has been correctly deployed. Life is full of hazards and possibly we all need to take more responsibility for our actions.
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I’m not dismissing the idea of a claim but there are a plethora of reasons, like so many electronic components and equipment, why the Project Step may fail to deploy. Ours failed to deploy several times, once, as described by an accidental button push. Once due to a fuse blowing and a couple of times due to a leisure battery being discharged too low. Im sure there will be others reasons, none make it a dangerous design fault in my opinion qthough. However, I have heard of road spray debris causing an issue. Best of luck but in the end the responsibility will be ours to check I'm sure. This step has been fitted by many manufacturers for several decades and apart from the rare question on forums as to how to solve issues like those described I’ve never seen suggestions of a design fault. Best of luck but don’t hold your breath.
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What a strange response. I too expressed my best wishes and a suggestion to explore possibilities but with a realistic approach being adopted. No points scoring on my behalf just an expression of my experience in such matters. Best to be as honest, informative as possible, cautious and careful don’t you think! Afterall, that’s what the OP was asking for I think!
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