Miserable, rotten handle on my Camplite

[leslie]

We are in Florida! Hope to put an end to the horrible summer we had. We were invited to Thanksgiving Dinner by some of our fellow RVers at our RV resort. Really helped our mood!

Now, about the little handle on our Camplite. At the end of October, my husband's doctors told him they were releasing him to leave to go to Florida. The night before we were going to FINALLY leave Louisville, we were in a muddy campsite, with rain pouring down. There was a mud slick on the step out of our camper, and a mud slick on the portable aluminum step we purchased to make it easier to access and egress our camper. Well, if you haven't guessed by now, I was exiting our camper, holding onto the handle with my right hand, as it is supposed to be used. My foot slipped out as soon as I touched the step on the camper. I went boom - boom - boom down the steps, landing on both feet. I did not fall.  When I released my hand from the handle, the skin on my pinkie finger was shredded. I saw bone. I knew I was in trouble.

Okay - the hand surgeon in Louisville said that I might lose my finger. So far, so good. I am waiting to see a hand surgeon here in Florida, but we had to stay in Louisville until just before Thanksgiving, until my doctor there felt I was ready to travel. 

One of my sons is asking if I am planning to sue. We had a new handle installed on our camper as soon as we could manage it so that there would not be a repeat of this. Question - who would I sue, if I were going to sue? I have a 2015 21 BHS, manufactured by the factory run by Scott Tuttle. I used the handle in the manner it was designed to be used. I am not a litigious sort of person, so I am not decided on what I will do. I need to see how this will turn out. I think it looks good that I will be able to keep my finger. So, there is pain and suffering and I am covered by excellent medical insurance.

At this point, I just want to heal. Suggestions?   

[Merlin]

Wow, the rough times continue! What a bad experience. 

If the original handle on yours is like the one on ours (same era Camplite), I think it is a very poor installation/design. That handle is hard up against the frame of the door that sticks out and can catch a finger in the bottom of the handle angle. I can easily understand what happened when you slipped. One of the first mods I did was install a folding Lend-A-Hand handle on our camper and that's the only one we use.

You'd need to consult an attorney about the feasibility of a lawsuit.

In the meantime, it's great to hear you made it to Florida and have nice neighbors! Enjoy that warm weather and get yourself healed up. I look forward to positive stories from you too!

[pjcd]

Talk to a lawyer, get some advice and take it from there.

[Paul]

I am glad to hear some news about you but I am sad of what happened! I hope you heal well!!

[gbpack]

Leslie - We are so sorry to hear about your hand. Hopefully it will heal nicely and you won't have any problems going forward. Glad that you finally made it to FL and hope that you have a nice Christmas and winter season down there. Gregg & Joan