# WTF? Am I indestructable? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 21, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083 "2007-04-21T17:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/21 "2007-04-21T19:16:05Z")
Wow. Great lucky story. You should quit smoking, though. No, really. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/22 "2007-04-21T19:18:39Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I think he means “don’t drive at 85mph!” I wonder if your lawsuit even has a leg to stand on, unless it’s legal to drive that speed where you are. All the same, glad you’re OK. [/QUOTE] Speeding would negate any lawsuit? That doesn’t sound right to me. It’s his fault if his tire explodes if he’s in Georgia, but it’s the tire company’s if he’s in Germany? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/23 "2007-04-21T19:28:33Z")
By “don’t do it again” I mean “don’t be involved in crazy freak accidents” and of course I know that is not something you plan and set out to do. \*\*Anaamika \*\* does bring up an interesting point, though. I kinda failed to notice the speed at which the accident occurred. You might want to check the speed ratings for that tyre. I don’t know enough about that topic, but looking at the display wall at the place where I have my oil changed (my truck’s that is), some of the tyres mention that they are rated for such and such speed. And I would bet that there is some fine print somewhere that says that you are on your own if you use the product to break the law and blah blah blah. Don’t get your hopes too high on that legal action. Also, as \*\*Angel \*\* notes, you might be feeling somewhat sore come tomorrow morning. See a doctor and have those muscle relaxants ready for when you need them ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/24 "2007-04-21T19:38:10Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] You should quit smoking, though. [/QUOTE] I’ve never had a cigarette in my life, but if a wreck like **Monkey** ’s happened to me, I might _need_ one. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/25 "2007-04-21T19:38:27Z")
[QUOTE=casdave] I think you should give up smoking, it’ll kill you one of these days. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I guess when you are fated to die a slow agonizing death from lung cancer, Fate is not going to let you get off easy with a car crash. 😛 BTW- dudes do walk away from that shit all the time. I flipped my car _end-over-end and no serious injuries to me or either of my two passengers. We were all belted in. It’s the fucking seatbelt that makes all the differnce. Dudes die in accidents when they don’t wear their seatbelts. Otherwise- not so much._ You will have some aches and pains appearing later tonite. Take a few OTC painkillers before you go to bed, and no booze. Take it easy. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/26 "2007-04-21T19:42:25Z")
[QUOTE=Angel of the Lord] **Monkey** , I don’t mean to be a buzzkill–and I’m glad you’re ok!–but you may want to check in with your doctor or the ER or something anyway. My understanding of accidents is that some injuries can take a while to manifest, while others can be masked by the feeling of relief and shock that happens when you realize that, hey, you’re not road pizza. And if it _just_ happened this morning, well. . .you know. Better safe than sorry. Shit, though, being able to walk away is still bloody amazing! [/QUOTE] Thanks, I appreciate the concern, but the EMT’s checked me out at the scene. Pretty thoroughly, too. It was kind of funny because their demeanor seemed to be “There just HAS to be something wrong with this guy, but his blood pressure isn’t even elevated! I wouldn’t have believed it if I wasn’t seeing it, but this guy’s fine” I sure as Hell am not going to test out my new found super powers, though. > [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Monkey, your neck hurts. I thought about that later. But I think a lawsuit could still stand just because of the property damage - even without Medical expenses. I suppose I could lie about “post traumatic stress disorder”\* or some such, but it’s not my style. I haven’t talked to a lawyer yet, but I’m thinking in addition to the property damage the fact that they put my life at risk might make them be pretty damn liable. Additionally, the speed thing is irrelevant, because there is no evidence as to how fast I was going AND the cop didn’t even ask (_::chuckle::_) so the speed isn’t on the accident report. I guess he was so surprised to see me uninjured and talking coherently that he forgot to ask. Speed limit was 70 on that stretch for what it’s worth. \*A very real disorder, but not applicable in this case ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/27 "2007-04-21T19:45:37Z")
Screw all these naysayers - I say try it again! This isn’t the kind of thing you want to be unsure about. Glad you’re ok ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/28 "2007-04-21T19:55:29Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Screw all these naysayers - I say try it again! [/QUOTE] If you decide to go this route, you could study [this movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106881) for tips. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/29 "2007-04-21T20:15:11Z")
[QUOTE=A Monkey With a Gun] It was a relatively new tire, so I’m going to call a lawyer on Monday and probably sue Firestone. [/QUOTE] Good luck with that. 85mph? Yeah, that was Firestone’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/30 "2007-04-21T20:30:34Z")
Glad you’re o.k. Every time I see your username I think of [this](http://www.instruction-manuals.co.uk/bookshop/children/gunroom.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/31 "2007-04-21T20:37:55Z")
Firestone has had a long string of bullshit Q&A problems, starting with their “721” brand back in the '70’s, whose steel belting material was stored outside in the rain, uncovered, leading to massive material failures and several (IIRC) deaths. More recently, of course, was the giant recall on OE tires on Ford Explorers. I, for one, wouldn’t trust Firestone to make proper marshmallows, let alone tires. I’ll never own anything Firestone makes again. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/32 "2007-04-21T20:41:38Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Good luck with that. 85mph? Yeah, that was Firestone’s fault. [/QUOTE] Just so everybody’s on the same page, I looked up the speed ratings for tires from [here](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=35) > [@](#): > > Beginning in 1991, the speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire’s service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below: > M 81 mph 130 km/h > N 87 mph 140km/h Temporary Spare Tires > P 93 mph 150 km/h > Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires > R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires > S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans > T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans > U 124 mph 200 km/h > H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes > V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Ca I’m fairly certain that 85 is less than 106. Besides, speeding isn’t going to be on the accident report anyway. I didn’t get a ticket for anything. The cop’s report is going to state very clearly that it was a bad tire. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/33 "2007-04-21T20:45:05Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] Firestone has had a long string of bullshit Q&A problems, starting with their “721” brand back in the '70’s, whose steel belting material was stored outside in the rain, uncovered, leading to massive material failures and several (IIRC) deaths. More recently, of course, was the giant recall on OE tires on Ford Explorers. I, for one, wouldn’t trust Firestone to make proper marshmallows, let alone tires. I’ll never own anything Firestone makes again. [/QUOTE] That’s one of the reason’s I think I have a chance. Firestone has a long history of this type of shit and I think that with the facts of the accident as they are, that they will be very willing to settle out of court just to make the issue go away… again. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/34 "2007-04-21T20:56:39Z")
**Monkey** , Glad to hear that you feel fine. I’m with Sapo: don’t do that again! 😉 I will pipe up to second the idea that you should go get checked out at the ER. And I mean today, right now, not tomorrow. Chances are pretty good that, if you’re up and walking around, you’re most likely fine. OTOH, it’s still entirely possible that you’ve been injured in a way that won’t necessarily manifest itself until later. Given the risk/reward ratio of not going, and finding out the hard way that you have an serious injury that should be monitored vs “wasting” a couple-three hours in the ER just to be safe - I’d pack a book, a snack bar, and a jacket, and go pay my local hospital a visit. JustAnotherGeek, EMT-Paramedic ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/35 "2007-04-21T21:21:45Z")
[QUOTE=A Monkey With a Gun] I The right rear tire’s entire belt came off at 85 mph. [/QUOTE] That’s a typo for kph, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/36 "2007-04-21T21:26:29Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] That’s a typo for kph, right? [/QUOTE] Why would it be? 85 mph is a ridiculously low speed for a tire to disintegrate. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/37 "2007-04-21T21:39:34Z")
**JustAnotherGeek** , again, I appreciate the thought of all of you that think I should seek further medical attention, but trust me, I’m fine. The EMTs agreed. Actually, I don’t think I’ll even be sore in the morning. Which brings me to this: [QUOTE=DrDeth] BTW- dudes do walk away from that shit all the time. I flipped my car _end-over-end and no serious injuries to me or either of my two passengers. We were all belted in. It’s the fucking seatbelt that makes all the differnce. Dudes die in accidents when they don’t wear their seatbelts. Otherwise- not so much._ [/QUOTE] The more I think about the kinetics of the crash, the less I’m surprised I’m not injured. Let me break it down. I’m traveling North at about 80-85 mph in the left lane with the guard rail approx 10 ft to my left. The tire’s belt flies off and wraps around the axle, but the tire never loses it’s pressure, oddly. (another reason why I blame Firestone. The damn tire didn’t even go flat. The fucking radial came off. It’s probably still about 35 psi as I write this) This throws the back end to the right causing the truck to spin to the left, and travel east about… well obviously only about ten feet. My front bumper smacks the guardrail pretty hard, but the vast amount of my momentum is still traveling north. That right there is why I’m fine, and the difference between me and Dal Earnhardt Sr. The guardrail didn’t really stop my momentum like the wall did his. My momentum was still traveling North - not west. I’m now _tumbling_ north, but at least I’m not stopped. Looking back on it, I probably didn’t sustain any more G’s than a vicious roller coaster ride. The truck’s pretty much fucked, 'cause it ain’t exactly designed to do barrel rolls, but I’m strapped in. I never got jolted too much; I just got spun pretty hard along the z axis. I was flipped head over keister too much for my liking, obviously, but it was that rolling motion that prevented injury. Dale hit the wall and stopped, I hit the rail and rolled sideways - preserving my momentum. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/38 "2007-04-21T21:46:14Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] When was the last time you checked your tire pressure? A lot of tire failures happen when underinflated tires overheat at high speed. I wouldn’t be so quick to blame Firestone. EDIT: Err, glad to hear you’re okay, of course! 🙂 [/QUOTE] You will find your answer in post # 13 of this very thread, five scant posts above your own. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/39 "2007-04-21T22:22:29Z")
God damn! If that ever happens to me, I sure as hell hope I have the presence of mind to just calmly climb out and ask for a cigarette. That must have looked _so damn cool!_ Were there any hot chicks in the crowd of onlookers? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083/40 "2007-04-21T23:01:51Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] Firestone has had a long string of bullshit Q&A problems, starting with their “721” brand back in the '70’s, whose steel belting material was stored outside in the rain, uncovered, leading to massive material failures and several (IIRC) deaths. More recently, of course, was the giant recall on OE tires on Ford Explorers. I, for one, wouldn’t trust Firestone to make proper marshmallows, let alone tires. I’ll never own anything Firestone makes again. [/QUOTE] Errr, btw, I don’t know what Q&A problems are. I mean, of course, QA problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-am-i-indestructable/401083.md?page=3)