that the seat needed to be replaced.  His own inspection similarly revealed that the tractor seat was worn and unstable, rocked back and forth, and leaked air.  Parker informed Consolidated Freightway's dispatchers about the problems, but after checking the seat they assured him that the seat was fine.


3
He then proceeded on his run to Kansas City.  During the trip, the tractor's seat continually lost air, forcing Parker to add air every 18-25 minutes (3-5 times before the accident) in order to keep the seat comfortably inflated.  The accident occurred when Parker, driving in a heavy rain at approximately 45-50 miles per hour, struck a dip in the road and the tractor seat collapsed or "bottomed out."    As a result of theseat's alleged failure, Parker was catapulted into the roof of the cab and injured.


4
Despite the collapse of the seat and the injuries he suffered, Parker continued to Kansas City.  Upon his arrival, he completed a cry card describing the problems he had experienced with the tractor's suspension system and air seat.  He later filed a workers' compensation claimant's statement for the occurrence.  In his statement, Parker asserted that the tractor he was driving had a "bad front end" and possibly "bad springs."    Parker also alleged that "with the tractor's front end in such a bad condition, when it passed over a bump in the road I [Parker] hit my head on the top of the cab and was thrown partly out of