As our Pearland, Texas car accident attorneys mentioned in Part 1, a loose wheel will cause the wheel studs to break and then the wheel and tire to separate from the vehicle. The primary cause of a loose wheel is undertorquing or overtorquing the lug nuts, which is why responsible aftermarket rim manufacturers issue explicit instructions on the amounts of torque and types of calibrated wrenches to use in tightening the lug nuts. These instructions and the weight ratings for their products are generally available on their websites.
A broken stud bolt on the wheel is a clear warning that something is wrong in the wheel assembly and should be fixed. Yet wheel stud bolts are not always properly seated against the axle flange when replaced by mechanics. Most shops recognize that hydraulic presses should be used to install stud bolts, but some mechanics might try to tack them on, which provides insufficient grip and could endanger your safety.
The clamping forces of a full set of secure stud bolts hold the rim to the axle and are designed to exceed the road forces trying to pry the rim from the axle. But the Pearland, Texas car accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC emphasize that a compromised set of studs will produce clamping forces less than the road forces trying to pry the rim from the axle. And this destructive prying force will eventually succeed in tearing the wheel from the vehicle, leading to a very dangerous and potentially deadly wreck. The wheel separations that occur while the vehicle is in use can result in deadly accidents that maim or kill the victims. Very often the heavy, loose wheel, still moving with strong momentum, will strike another vehicle or a pedestrian with devastating consequences. And the car or truck from which the wheel separated will lose control and crash, frequently in a severe rollover accident.
Wheel detachments happen at the rate of around 40 to 60 per week in the United States. Research conducted in the United States and Canada found that approximately 45% to 50% of the wheel separations resulted from loose wheel nuts.
The costs in medical bills, lost lives, vehicle damage, and lost productivity time can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is far les costly for costly for auto shops to help you choose the right aftermarket part than to later face the high costs of a wheel separation accident attributable to their negligence. But holding responsible parties accountable for their negligence after you’ve been injured can be a challenge.
Contact the experienced Pearland, Texas car accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC for a free initial legal consultation to learn more. Reach us at 713-807-9500 or through our online contact form.