BLKTOPTRVL

I took a 1600 mile trip this past week. While driving on the PA turnpike I came up on a truck tire that had exploded and shredded.

Having no place to go because the next lane was occupied, I ran over the tire fragments.

Later when I looked the rear valance of my car had been ripped from the rear bumper of the car on the right side (directly above the muffler.)

The blow was so severe that the metal license plate frame (which is screwed in at the top), was bent approximately 35 degrees.

Does anyone know the cost of this valiance?

Also, does anyone know the procedure for making a claim against a highway commission?

JONSKI

**** happens. Don't make other people pay for your problems.

Next time drive more carefully.

particleeffect

na, I've had to hit things on the highway before when swerving or slaming on my brakes isn't an option. It's hard to see threw the car infront of you sometimes. It's not always an issue of driving more carefully, but I think this type of thing comes down to insurance, unless there was some kind of pothole in the road and you could prove it had been neglected over time.

IMO, retread damage SHOULD come out of the DOT's pocket because it's really BS to have them all over the road, and STILL allow them to be used.

BLKTOPTRVL

Thanks for your Opinion Johnboy. However, it is uncalled for and not correct.

I paid a fee to the PA highway commission to travel on that road. It is their responsibity to keep it clean. It is the truckers responsibility to clear his debris from the road.

Something sitting on the road, blocked from view by cars ahead of me is not my responsibility.

I pay for I own mistakes. I expect others to pay for their own too.

overkill

An embarassingly immature statement.

c00lduke

Nothing new there

artguy

hey...if thats the case then apexi owes me a bumper cuz that same plastic piece was destroyed by poor fitment of my n1 dual.

pay up apexi...pay up!! lol

how much is that rear bumper skirt anyway?

Ive hit stuff on the highway too...but honestly Id rather they spent time fixing the damn potholes so i can actually drive...than going around picking up trash.

thats a bummer though....it coulda been worse I think...so good luck.

j

Toadman

Hell, the day I took delivery of my FD (June 2001) I was following behind a &*$%# Suburban and decided to move to the left lane around him. Only immediately after I made the lane change, an ALUMINUM LADDER was in the lane I was just in and would have shredded my bumper and undercarriage or taken me out altogether, beings the car is lowered! Talk about luck!

Wargasm

I never like to drive behind anyone too closely. Rocks are the most likely problem, but sometimes you do see the occassional hunk of tire fly up 5 feet in the air when some SUV driver runs it over.

Stay back where you can see or get in a lane where you are the only person.


B

BLKTOPTRVL

Thanks to you all, but I was not asking for driving tips.

To all of you who somehow think this was my fault, then all is can say is that if you have never been forced to drive over something unexpected in the lane that is out of normal view when following at a safe distance, then you have not been driving long enough to have an valid opinion, let alone express it.

If there is anyone who has an answer to my original question(s), I would appreciate a reply.

To recap, first, does anyone know how much this part costs?

Second, does anyone know the claim procedure for the PA turnpike. All highway organizations that I have driven over the years have procedures for such incidents.

I know that I can find the answers on Tuesday when Mazda and PA are open for business, but I wanted to get a jump and some assistance from my brethren here on the forum.

Thanks

Railgun

So if a truck had a blowout 5 minutes before you got there, would you still want to make a claim? How is the highway dept supposed to take care of that that quick? Let's be realistic. If you hit a deer on a highway, would you sue the WWF or local park district?

BLKTOPTRVL

Yes. They are still responsible. WWF, local park? They have nothing to do with this, unless they were responsible for the deer. But that is a spurious example.

As I said, I paid a fee to travel their road. In doing so, I should not be forced to incur this expense. If their procedures are not adequate for repair and cleanup within five minutes, that is their problem.

This is akin to the problem of you slipping and falling on my steps because they are covered in snow. It may have only started snowing five minutes ago, but it is still my responsibility (like it or not) to provide safe access. If On the other hand, had I posted a sign saying no trespassing, then you would be in taking a chance at your own risk.

The PA turnpike commission sold me the right to unobstructed travel on their road. They did not keep their end of the bargin.

To put it another way, suppose you invited my daughter to play with your son in your house. If five minutes before, a rabid dog had entered your house and then bit her, you can bet your *** that you would be responsible in the lawsuit that gets filed.

But again, if you do not have the answer I seek, I do not plan to sit here all day and debate responsibility with you.

swbrad

I paid $50 for a used rear bumper air dam from some nice guy on the forum 15 months ago.

I would get it off of the muffler tips pronto. All of that stuff burns (I know).

BLKTOPTRVL

Thanks, 50 used will probably translate to $150 from Mazda.

Unfortunately, the dam will no longer hold it's shape or stay in the slot so it is where it is. For now, the car is cold and will not be restarted until next Saturday when I have had a chance to replace it.

Thanks again.

rynberg

The part is $157.20 from a Mazda dealer, you will be able to get a better price (and service) from www.mazdaformance.com or from Ray Crowe at Malloy Mazda.

Nuvolari

iTrader: (4)

Try a call to the PA highway comishion, but a few letters and alot of time may... get you your $150.When I lived in the state if it was road realted ( pot holes, construction area) and it was reported your covered .If it came off another car , you need there plates and you could make a claim on your insurance once you reported it to the state. But the head ache of the battle with the state may be worse then the cost of a new one . I had something like this happen to me in VA, a ford trucks exhaust fell of about 100 yards ahead of me and the really nice people to the left and right of me made sure I had no were to go except over it, I heard a bang , then saw **** fly from the back of my car . When I pulled over I was shocked my 99 lip didnt have a mark on it, but when I got home and got under the car I have a hole in my front under tray the size of a soft ball.

BLKTOPTRVL

Thanks, I'll give them a call.

BLKTOPTRVL

Thanks, I never even thought of the plastic undertray. Next weekend, I will lift the car to look. I need to get under anyway because there seems to be a (unrelated) leak in my exhaust system - hopefully just a gasket.

BLKTOPTRVL

You know ArtGuy, I lived in Boston, and I would never drive my 7 on 95 or the mass turnpike at speed because I would EXPECT terrible potholes and rubbish on the road. In fact, while I was living there, both my 7's stayed at home in SC and my Rodeo did the rough duty.

But when you are on glass smooth surface like the PA TP (the section I was on) and you find this, it is totally unexpected.

Railgun

The highway department is now responsible for tires on vehicles? Really? So if I get a flat I can rest easily that someone from that department will be there to fix it for me because it happened on their strech of road so it must be a problem with the road. Or did you not really mean that the department is responsible for that truck getting a flat in the first place. Better example for you then. If you spun out on the highway and hit a guard rail, would you sue for the fact that had the rail been, oh, 5 ft further away from the edge of the road, you would have just stopped and not taken any damage?




I'm sure you'll be first in line then when they jack up the price to, say. $50 to ensure proper manpower and equipment gets installed to monitor every last mile of the interstate. It's what, $16 border to border?



This is about as good of an example that you critizied me for. Look at the scope of what you're comparing to. One set of steps to one person, and what, 500+ miles of roadway and a maybe 200 people, most of which aren't workers?



Did it exclusively say that on the ticket you get when you get on the pike?



This was my favorite one. If 5 minutes before I invited your daughter over a dog came in my house and bit her, either that wasn't your daughter, you have a time machine, a clone that looks like her, or this point wasn't thought out too much.

Quote:

But again, if you do not have the answer I seek, I do not plan to sit here all day and debate responsibility with you.

This is why I should have been a judge. How close was the vehicle in front of you that you didn't have time to slow down in enough time? Sorry, I gotta agree with Jonski on this. For all you know, the tire blew 2 minutes before you got there. Assuming that someone called it in, and assuming that the dispatch location was within 5 miles of the debris, You'd still hit it. I see you're a SW engineer. You of all people should know that no problem can be solved instantly. Why don't you sue the people that were in the other lane. Had they not been there you could have avoided this tragic mess.

Manolis_D

iTrader: (2)

Dude, don't you have something better to do with your time than pester some poor person on the other end of the phone who hears nothing but **** all day? How the hell do you expect them to keep tires, etc. off the road all the time? Would you rather they close off the freeway 3 hours a day to clean it up for your royal highness? This is absolutely ridiculous -- you can replace that thing for the price of 1-2 tanks of gas, just fix it and leave more distance in front of you.

You, in my opinion, are a disgrace to society. **** happens buddy, suck it up and deal with it.

-Manolis

"My engine blew... I'm suing BFI for putting dust into the air which accelerates wear on my apex seals" christ....

BLKTOPTRVL

Thanks again for your two cents worth, but if I need your opinion, I will be sure to let you know.

BLKTOPTRVL

And you have a good day too.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Fools like you belong in California, not Pennsylvania. This has nothing to do with your driving habits (sometimes your situation gives you no option), it has to do with your misconception of responsibility. When you choose to drive on a road, there are assumed risks that nothing can positively mitigate. Like a patch of ice. Or a deer. Or a shredder.

The same logic that you provided explaining why you were unable, through no fault of your own, to avoid hitting the tire can be applied by other parties.

This is why I carry comprehensive insurance. Unless you can prove an individual entity was directly negligent in creating the damage to your car, your only option is comp. But if you want to sue the turnpike commission, have fun, and pay attention when the judge explains the concept of responsibility.

Dave

stik6shift00

are you serious....he did everything he could....make them pay for it! i would. what else could he do....slam on his brakes on the highway and cause a 10 car pile up?