i had a blowout on the freeway a while back and the reaction of the car was VERY similar to what you just described. luckily i wasn't going too fast and was in the right lane and brought it to a stop safe and quick...then put on the spare

 

Stop! Don't touch anything. Don't make a move on anything without some kind of official on hand to document everything. I agree wholeheartedly with Tres and CK, you should be looking down the road at who will be held responsible for this crazy event. Forget about last night--look to tomorrow on this one. Aside from the damage to your car, your life was put in serious danger due to either gross negligence or faulty manufacturing.

I hope that you are not in possession of the car now--best if it is at an impound or shop, so that they may make an independent judgement (with documentation) before you have any further contact with the car. If they haven't, take a camera when you go see it and make sure that there is someone there to see you take the photos (lots of close-ups of the hub, lugs, etc.).

Good Luck,
-j

 

wow, glad your ok. my lugnuts were not torqued down right from the factory/dealership.

 

I too think something is fishy. Wheel just don't come off with out warning. Them most obvious answer the the shop where your tires were rotated.

 

thanks for the info, my car is currently in a shop awaiting my signature to begin repairs. I'll take a camera with me and ask them to document anything important they find, especially dealing with the lug nuts. Do you think that they will be able to return my car to its previous condition, or might i expect problems in the future from this accident?

 

Your insurance company needs to know that the tires were rotated two weeks ago and then they need to call the shots from there. Its a no-brainer what caused this. I have two friends that this has happened to. (over a 25 year period).

 

Ive worked for goodyear for 16 years, and If any lugs were ever left "loose" it happened within the 1st hundred miles or usually a few blocks. "Loose" lugs can be felt just pulling the car out of the shop. "Improperly torqued" ones may come loose down the road and as they get looser they oblong the holes in the rim. Not over tightning them. The stud would snap before an impact gun could ever oblong the holes in a wheel.


Im for the theory of you ran over a tread carcus and it somehow caught up in the wheel well and all heck broke loose.

upload some pics when you get them, that would be great.

 

Wow, that must of been a pretty scary moment.