First accident in my Hybrid (bought end of 03) was just a couple of months ago. I was driving on the freeway and there was WHEEL bouncing down the road (not just tire, the entire wheel, with hubcap and everything!) I couldn't avoid it! It hit my right front bumper and tore a small hole in it. Shook me up pretty good, but luckily did no more than that. I never saw a car missing a wheel or anything that it could have come from. It went on to cause a more serious accident behind me (I heard the reports and saw the CHP).

It cost about $700 to fix; insurance covered everything above my deductable ($500) and said it was not my fault because the thing was moving. If it had not been moving, I would have been at fault. I did get it fixed, and everything looks great again. The repair shop even glued my HOV sticker back on so I didn't have to order a replacement sticker.

I still get scared thinking about what that thing could have done to my car and to me! Everything from smashing the headlight to smashing through my windshield! Not that I was a bad driver before , but I am much more cautious now when people in front of me slow for no apparent reason.

--A