There is a pit-defining (17) housing in a vehicle pillar in a spaced relationship with a vehicle inner panel assembly. A load-transferring element includes an anchor plate (27a) attached to the vehicle inner panel assembly and arms (27b, 27c) extending away from the anchor plate. Each of the arms (27b, 27c) is joined to one of sidewalls (17b, 17c) of the pit-defining housing at that area region which extends inwardly from a terminal end (27bT, 27cT) of the arm along an inside of the arm.