| Bad Accident, Extensive Damage, But Not a Scratch
- Click HERE for Original Thread
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| Dirk55 |
I was very, very, lucky tonight. While driving home from a business trip on the outer loop of the DC Beltway, my new 2003 Redrock was hit by a tire that was either a re-tread or had come off a truck. It happened so quickly I did not even have time to react. I was in the left lane in the flow of traffic when all of a sudden there is an airborne tire that came over the median barrier and was headed right toward me. It severed the roof pillar in front of the passenger seat, ripped a hole in the roof and smashed through the windshield and sunroof. Glass was everywhere but I was able to keep the vehicle in control and pull over to the shoulder. The X never waivered and the structural integrity probably saved me from any injury. I walked away shaken but without a scratch. If the tire had hit on the driver's side I would have been seriously hurt.
I am trying to keep this all in perspective as the vehicle can be either repaired or replaced. Right now I feel incredibly fortunate. |
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| GBX |
| I'm sorry to hear about your accident. I'm glad you're okay. It seems like you and the X both performed well under pressure. |
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| mdxxxx |
| Wow, what an incident... looks like both you and the X, performed admirably in a pressure situation... Good news, and I'm glad you're alright...:4: |
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| ndahbar |
| Dude, go RIGHT ahead and sue everbody and everything related. Exercise your American right! That is just rediculous. If I were a lawyer in the DC area I would take your case FOR FREE!! |
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| TheWorm |
| JEBUS! Glad you're OK!! |
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| AikiMDX |
| Glad you are ok. Good job of staying calm with so much chaos around you. |
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| wmquan |
| Yikes. Glad you're okay. You did really well in handling the situation, keeping your vehicle under control. Some would have freaked and lost it. |
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| TopDog |
| Good driving to keep all under control under those circumstances. Where on the Beltway were you? Hopefully you can get another MDX or have repairs done quickly! |
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| hammerX |
You're very lucky, and I'm glad to hear you weren't hurt. You're right in saying that in the big picture, the X can be fixed. Congrats.
2003 SS MDX - cdn model - res,back up sensor,cargo net,Husky all weather floor mats and cargo tray |
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| JTM |
I am glad you are okay.
Keep us post on the outcome (repair/replace?) And if possible, take a few pictures of your X. |
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| admin |
| Ouch, glad you're ok! |
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| TYP |
OMG...
Guess what..
This past weekend.. on my way home from SD, I saw a flying tire that just flew out from a white minivan and bounce on the other freeway ( I think it was 215 I was on 15 N)...
I guess this kind of things happenes everywhere?...
Glad you are ok! hope your insurance will cover everything.
:eek: |
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| sixthacura |
| I guess your were BLESSED and GOD's hand was right on top of yours handling that wheel so that harm was spared to you and others on the road. May our Lord continue to protect over your. |
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| Dirk55 |
Many thanks for all the kind words, it is really appreciated. We all love our MDX's but remember that in the big scheme of things it's just a car.
Here is an update... filed an insurance claim last night and spoke to the adjuster assigned to my case early this morning after she viewed the vehicle. It is repariable and they will be replacing the entire roof section. There is only very minor damage to the front bumper and nothing to the hood or fenders. All of the damage was isolated to the roof so from a repair standpoint this is good. I also spoke to my dealer, got their body shop recommendation, and will be visiting the facility tomorrow before making a decision. This particular shop has extensive experience with Acuras and has even repaired a few MDX's. However, if there are any DC area members in Maryland who have a recommendation I am all ears.
The bad news is that I am looking at 6-8 weeks in the shop, maybe even longer depending on the availability of parts. My concerns center around the structural integrity of the vehicle after such an extensive repair. Glass was everywhere so there is a liklihood of damage to the dash, center console and seats. I asked how this would be handled and was told that if there was any damage to these components they would be replaced. I was assured by my insurance company Geico that only Acura replacement parts would be used. So far I am hearing all the right things and will stay on top of the work as it is completed. |
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| Dirk55 |
quote:
Originally posted by TopDog
Good driving to keep all under control under those circumstances. Where on the Beltway were you? Hopefully you can get another MDX or have repairs done quickly!
Top Dog
I was on the outer loop westbound, headed towards the 270/495 split. It happened around 7:00 pm so you know what the traffic is like. As I mentioned the tire seemed to come out of nowhere and have no idea where it went after hitting me. |
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| bomo |
| Good to hear all is well with you. Had to add my voice to commend you on keeping your cool and handling the situation so well. I hope I would do as well. I am also interested in opinions on structural integrity and whether your X will be good as new when repaired. Good luck. |
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| JTM |
quote:
Originally posted by Dirk55
Here is an update... filed an insurance claim last night and spoke to the adjuster assigned to my case early this morning after she viewed the vehicle. It is repariable and they will be replacing the entire roof section. There is only very minor damage to the front bumper and nothing to the hood or fenders. All of the damage was isolated to the roof so from a repair standpoint this is good. I also spoke to my dealer, got their body shop recommendation, and will be visiting the facility tomorrow before making a decision. This particular shop has extensive experience with Acuras and has even repaired a few MDX's. However, if there are any DC area members in Maryland who have a recommendation I am all ears.
Dirk,
With my experience with GEICO, they will offer OEM parts if car is less than 5 years old (It might be hard to find the aftermarket parts for MDX anyway).
Depends where you are in Maryland, you might also consider Pohanka Body Shop in Chantilly, VA. I went to their body shop facility before and I like their environment. Since they are associate with Pohanka dealerships (Acura, Lexus, and more) I believe they could do the job RIGHT with right parts.
Good luck with your repairs. Hope you could get back your X soon. |
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| chillimouse |
| I live in Canada and everytime I go to US seeing the re-tread tires at the side of the highway, I always wonder what if my car was hit while the truck in front of me re-tread. Now I know how it is and how it's going to feel too! What a terrible experience. I am really glad that you are safe in one piece. |
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| Liberty |
| I'm really glad you're okay. You sound like a level-headed sort of person with your priorities in the right place, and I hope everything works out to your satisfaction. |
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| laborlitigator |
| You can always replace the X. . . glad you're alright! |
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| hammermdx |
| Amen, consider yourself very lucky that the tire did not enter the passenger compartment. |
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| TopDog |
quote:
Originally posted by Dirk55
This particular shop has extensive experience with Acuras and has even repaired a few MDX's. However, if there are any DC area members in Maryland who have a recommendation I am all ears.
Dirk,
It sounds like you're in the Montgomery County area as well. In Rockville, I have used (on numerous occasions unfortunately) Mastercrafters. I had a modified 1990 silver VW Corrado that was rear ended by an Integra and pushed into an Accord. After Mastercrafters work, nobody could tell where the original silver ended and the work began. After that, a friend was driving my Nissan pickup and was supposedly hit by a girl. They did a masterful (pardon the pun) job on that as well. If you want more information, just let me know. TopDog@dearbought.com or PM me here. |
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| Dirk55 |
| Here are some photos of my recent encounter with an errant tire. Hopefully none of you fellow X'rs ever have to experience this. The bottom line is that we drive a VERY safe vehicle. As I mentioned before I walked away without a scratch. |
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| Dirk55 |
| Here is a little closer view... |
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| Dirk55 |
| A final look at the interior... |
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| 2002 Acura MDX! |
| Ouch!!!!!!!! Thats gonna hurt. I'm glad that you are OK. Do you think you can fix the X or is the insurance company giving you another one??? |
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| ndahbar |
HOLY SH*T !!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
All that just from a stupid tire? As in rubber?! |
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| henry_atwork |
not just a stupid tire ... a stupid tire coming at, what, 60mph+?
but still, amazing pictures, glad everyone is okay. i know sometimes i would duck a little and cringe when a big rock hits the windshield, can't imagine what you went thru. :(
-henry |
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| Dirk55 |
quote:
Originally posted by 2002 Acura MDX!
Ouch!!!!!!!! Thats gonna hurt. I'm glad that you are OK. Do you think you can fix the X or is the insurance company giving you another one???
From a repair standpoint the damage is actually more straightforward than it looks. Luckily it was isolated to between the rain channels on the roof, no damage to any of the pillars. This was my biggest repair concern in that pillar damage might compromise the structural integrity of the X. The whole section of the roof between those channels will be replaced. The body shop is still assessing any additional damage to the interior as a result of shattered glass. Any of those components/parts would be replaced as well. The total repair should take about 6 weeks or so. I'll keep everyone informed of the progress. |
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| Jupiter |
Dirk55:
I am very happy to hear that no one was hurt especially you. :) Also, I commend you for keeping your cool and control of the vehicle. Knowing the potential traffic, you averted many more secondary incidents on a very busy highway.
As for the mechanical integrity concern, it is my belief that the preference is always for the original. With that said, it all depends on the craftsmanship of the person working on your X. I believe that if the work is done right it could be just as good or better. My 2 cents ....
BTW ... thanks for the pix. OUCH! :eek:
J |
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| xcel |
Hi Dirk55:
___After seeing the pic’s, I am truly glad you walked away from this one. If you were in a lesser vehicle, the outcome would probably not have been the same …
___Good Luck and I wish your X that fastest recovery …
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| papawoolf |
I'm glad your are OK and you didn't have a passenger in the front seat. The man above was looking out for you, cause if that would have been the drivers side you would have been seriously injured.
I hate driving on 495, I have seen aluminum ladders, shovels and rakes on the shoulder. You know that it had to have fallen off of an truck and another motorist probaly ran over it or had there vehicle damaged.
Did Geico offer you a rental car while your X is being repaired? |
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| greatscot |
 
That is frightening! I am glad you are OK. What an experience, your pics tell the story well. You are to be commended for keeping your wits about you. Let us know how the repair work measures up to your expectations. After this experience, you deserve to be well taken care of. Have you let Acura know as an FYI? |
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| XStatic |
| Yikes! ANd I was worried about scratches when I saw that 3 foot long tire shred coming down after being thrown about 40 feet in the air in front of me last week. I guess there was a lot more at stake! |
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| RonH |
HOLY SMOKES!! :eek: When I first read "flying tire", I had a flashback to when we were sideswiped in our long-retired LeSabre by an entire wheel and tire that came flying off the back of semi trailer ... but I never imagined something like THAT. I mean, we had some serious damage from it (as did several cars behind us), but wow! Hurts even more to see an 03 Redrock just like mine in that state.
Just glad to hear you came out OK! Cars can be always be repaired (or in this case I dare say, replaced), but we and our families can not. |
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| jeych |
| Hey was that a GoodYear tire by chance? if so I want it back is missing from the rear axle on my semi truck. Just Kidding of course. |
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| jeych |
| Ahhhh I bet it kinda makes you sad you weren't driving your mother in law to a doctor's appointment that day. |
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| MDXor |
We are sorry to hear about your accident.
We are glad you're okay. |
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| ImOnlyTen |
| Your very lucky. Glad your ok. |
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| ImOnlyTen |
| Thats one big tire! |
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| BlueStreak |
| Not a scratch is UNBELIEVABLE!:eek: |
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| Dr.X |
Hope the photo attachment is legible.
Driving on the Long Beach Freeway when a gravel truck pulling two trailers jacknifed in front of me. The only way I could get out was to climb out the passenger window. Every panel on my 2001 was dented. I learned how well the MDX retains its value when State Farm stepped up and paid me only $5K less than I did 16 months and 40K miles ago! |
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| greatscot |
Flippin' 'eck! Is that the 17 you were on? I drive down there quite often on business. |
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| mdxxxx |
quote:
Originally posted by Dr.X
Hope the photo attachment is legible.
Driving on the Long Beach Freeway when a gravel truck pulling two trailers jacknifed in front of me. The only way I could get out was to climb out the passenger window. Every panel on my 2001 was dented. I learned how well the MDX retains its value when State Farm stepped up and paid me only $5K less than I did 16 months and 40K miles ago!
:eek:
Glad your ok Dr.X... |
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| Captain MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by Dr.X
Hope the photo attachment is legible.
Driving on the Long Beach Freeway when a gravel truck pulling two trailers jacknifed in front of me. The only way I could get out was to climb out the passenger window. Every panel on my 2001 was dented. I learned how well the MDX retains its value when State Farm stepped up and paid me only $5K less than I did 16 months and 40K miles ago!
That's truck driver is such a moron!!!! Glad you can come out of your car. |
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| xcel |
Hi Dr. X:
___The crash that you and your X were involved in was incredible. Thank god you weren’t killed! It appears as of you didn’t hit the second trailer of the OTR truck but when the third trailer wrapped around and caught you in its aftermath, it squeezed you into the second trailer? Is that about the way you remember it? That is if you remember anything as your life was flashing before your eyes?
___As for the X and its residual, that was great that State Farm gave you only $5k less than what you spent on her with that many miles. Are you considering an 04 X w/ side curtains now that you have had some time to reflect upon the accident? Just imagine if you were to be involved in a similar accident with the only difference being that you and or one of your family members were in a sports car! I don’t think the outcome would have been nearly as rosy and makes a case for another SUV of any make I would think?
___Good Luck and please update us on the new automobile of your choosing.
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| msu79gt82 |
| This thread has been resurrected for about two weeks now, but Dirk55 has not posted in it since 2/15/03:( |
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| xcel |
Hi Msu79gt82:
___I don’t know where Dirk55 is but did you see Dr.X’s X accident on page 3 of this thread? Not that his post bumped the thread but it was sure worth additional commentary to say the least!
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| Dr.X |
During the accident it was like a movie playing in slow motion. I vividly recall both airbags opening and watching them (even tho it happened in a millisecond!) After everything came to a stop, the interior was filled with smoke and I detected a strong fuel smell. I thought I was on fire. I climbed out the front passenger window and stepped into diesel fuel which came from the ruptured truck saddle tank. I was so greatful to be unhurt and alive that I never was angry. Also, during the accident, I was talking to my mom on my cell phone so she heard me yelling "Oh, my God" and the accident itself!
Two weeks after my November accident in my 2001 MDX, I purchased a 2003 MDX (Touring with DVD). |
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