Will my car insurance cover damages to my car since my wheel fell off?

Question

Thanks for looking. I was about to take off and go run some errands. I then noticed a noise coming from my front driver wheel. I decided to turn back home, and after 1/2 a mile I was home, and was about to turn to park when my front driver wheel rolls of my car. My car just dropped to its disc, and I probably kept going for about 4-5 feet. There is at least a couple grand in body damage that I can see. Will my auto insurance cover this even though Im the one who last changed the tires on my car? Can there be damages I cant see if it fell on the disc? Thank you

Answer 1

OK, this is a fun question - fun, in that the answer is NOT obvious to me, so I pulled out my handy dandy book of insurance forms.

(Disclaimer) I'm reading a standard ISO auto form - your policy might NOT be written on this form.

On the one hand, collision is defined as impact with another vehicle or object. The wheel itself, didn't impact anything. The body impacted the road, I'm assuming, as did the axle, etc. Under exclusions, it includes mechanical failure, but words it as "damage due to and confined to".

On the other hand, when you hit a pothole, that's impacting the road, and it's covered under collision. Also, the damage wasn't confined to the mechanical failure, but included damage to the body and underside, when the car hit the ground.

So, I'm going to say, in my opinion it would be covered, subject to your collision deductible - and would be surchargable. I'm also going to say, any damage or defect to the nuts that kept the wheel on is NOT going to be covered. And they'll depreciate the disc for milage.

Now, PLEASE send me an email, and let me know if I"m right or wrong about this, and what the adjuster said. You might have a weird policy form, too . . . but I"m curious.

Thanks!


**ps, homeowners NEVER covers damage to your car. Ever.**

Answer 2

I've seen many of these claims... it's really not that big of a deal. The loss is covered under the collision portion of your policy (the vehicle collided with the ground). There is a _slight_ chance an adjuster might handle this as a comprehensive claim (which sometimes has a lower deductable and would be better, rate wise, if even if the deductable was the same) but I can guarentee you, this is a collision claim.

This is a covered under loss under your auto policy, as long as you have collision coverage. No other insurance applies. It realy does not matter that you may/were have been the last/only one to tighten the lug nuts on the wheel. This should be a question the adjuster will ask as f it was someone else, like a company, they might have a recovery potential against them. Feel free to tell the adjuster you were the last one to tighten the nuts... it won't change the coverage or the "at-fault" status of the claim.

Answer 3

A home owners insurance policy NEVER covers problems with your car due to your lack of maintenance.

If there is body damage, and you have full coverage, your insurance might cover it, less your deductible.

In your case, you don't even have the option of going back where the tire was changed to see if they will cover part of it. Although most tire shops will have you sign the invoice which clearly states you should watch the lug nuts to insure they remain tight, which eliminates their liability.

I'd suggest next time you hear a noise that you stop and investigate instead of continuing to drive. Even if you didn't have a jack and lug wrench it would have been a lot cheaper to call a tow truck to tighten your wheel than the amount of damage dollar value you have now.

Answer 4

Only if you have "full coverage". You will need to pay any deductable included in your policy. As stated, don't even mention that you removed the wheel at any time. Your homeowners insurance will not cover it. Homeowners insurance has a clause stating that any insurable vehicle (car, boat, ATV, motorcycle) is not covered.

Answer 5

More than likely your auto insurance will cover the damage caused by the wheel falling off, however, they will not cover what caused the wheel to fall off.

Answer 6

It would still be considered an accident. People run into their own vehicles, garage doors, mail boxes etc all the time and the insurance companies cover the repairs minus your deductible. Your rates will probably increase as they would in any other at fault collision.

Answer 7

If you have full coverage they will probably cover it. I probably wouldn't tell them you were the one that had the tires off last (sounds like you need to buy a torque wrench). If you only have liability insurance then you are SOL.

Cars that loose a wheel and drop on the rotor usually need a new rotor, brake pads, and either a new hub bearing (comes with new studs) or just replace the studs in your bearing.

Answer 8

Ahh...the old forgot to tighten the lug nuts huh?
Depends on the coverage you have. If you don't have the necessary auto coverage, you could try your homeowners policy....if you have one.
Call your car insurance company and ask them...
Good luck. I presume you double check those lug nuts the next time.

Answer 9

That's a good question

Answer 10

YES THEY WILL BUT DON'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE.