Well friends, yesterday afternoon sparked a real disaster in my life of retirement. My right rear wheel found a very deep pothole on my way home from shopping and managed to move the entire wheel assembly rearward about three inches, and canted inwards from the top of the wheel about two inches. While my little twenty-five-year-old Toyota Camry is still "sort of drivable," it now has a distinct "waddle" when moving over thirty miles per hour and is most certainly unsafe.

While I've been ecstatic to rent a small home deep in the Arkansas woods, living nearly ten miles from the nearest grocery store and fifteen miles from the VA Clinic is going to make life extremely difficult for me now. I honestly don't know what I can do now, since my very modest SS and SSI income simply isn't sufficient to effect repairs on the car.

You can borrow my 20lb sledge hammer!  You can knock some sense into that car!

Gee thanks Charlie! At my age, I'm likely not able to even lift a 20lb sledge hammer. I'm more likely to knock some sense into myself! 😆

8 hours ago, n4gix said:

Well friends, yesterday afternoon sparked a real disaster in my life of retirement. My right rear wheel found a very deep pothole on my way home from shopping and managed to move the entire wheel assembly rearward about three inches, and canted inwards from the top of the wheel about two inches. While my little twenty-five-year-old Toyota Camry is still "sort of drivable," it now has a distinct "waddle" when moving over thirty miles per hour and is most certainly unsafe.

While I've been ecstatic to rent a small home deep in the Arkansas woods, living nearly ten miles from the nearest grocery store and fifteen miles from the VA Clinic is going to make life extremely difficult for me now. I honestly don't know what I can do now, since my very modest SS and SSI income simply isn't sufficient to effect repairs on the car.

Wish you were closer man I can turn a wrench with the best of them and I'd be happy to help. Best advice I can give from afar is check out rockauto they usually have good prices on parts. Probably damaged your control arms and possibly the tie rod

I would contact and lodge a complaint against your local council who is in charge of maintaining the roads. Take photos of the road conditions etc. There has been many successful claims against vehicle damages here where the damage was proven to be caused by potholes from poorly maintained roads.

1 hour ago, Garys said:

I would contact and lodge a complaint against your local council who is in charge of maintaining the roads.

 

When I was in the UK, I ran into a hefty pothole and it bent my steel wheel. 🙄 No chance in terms of claiming from the local council, because if its not reported they say its not their fault, and if it is reported they say it wasn't repaired because they hadn't the resources. So you get zilch in compensation. 

 

16 hours ago, n4gix said:

My right rear wheel found a very deep pothole on my way home from shopping and managed to move the entire wheel assembly rearward about three inches, and canted inwards from the top of the wheel about two inches

 

Set up a "GoFund Me". I'm sure many here would help you out. 👍

50 minutes ago, martin-w said:

Set up a "GoFund Me". I'm sure many here would help you out. 👍

I've given some thought to that idea. I will most likely do just that Martin. Twenty years ago I'd have already jacked up the car and determined what exactly needed to be replaced. At 73 though, I can't even safely get down on the ground to look, much less stand up again! 😮

Set up the GoFund Me Bill - you can count me in.

 

12 minutes ago, vgbaron said:

Set up the GoFund Me Bill - you can count me in.

 

 

MartinW will switch to genrosity mode too. 

19 hours ago, n4gix said:

While I've been ecstatic to rent a small home deep in the Arkansas woods, living nearly ten miles from the nearest grocery store and fifteen miles from the VA Clinic is going to make life extremely difficult for me now. I honestly don't know what I can do now, since my very modest SS and SSI income simply isn't sufficient to effect repairs on the car.

If you were close, I would show up with tools and beer. I wonder if replacing the axle or hub needs would solve it. I've done a lot of that work before because I'm cheap🤣. I had an old VW Golf and it would wobble a little and make noise when I got on the brakes. Looked under and saw the axle had a shiny ring around it meaning it was making contact. I changed the axle with a 70 dollar replacement and it was golden. I would definitely help ya, I look out for fellow vets😁

Unfortunately, the car has independent rear suspension using McPherson struts. Upper and lower control arms, as well as anti-sway bars are used.

I tried to drive to the closest garage, but as can be seen, the tire self-destructed about a mile down the road. I had to limp it back to my home. <sigh>

Oh yes, while the tire was flailing around during the short drive home, it managed to rip up the brake line, so now I have no brakes... <thud!> 

 Not too much help right now, but if its a county road/city road they may foot the bill for repairs...You will need pictures BEFORE the request is made tho !!!

Have you checked with your insurance company?  Any coverage under comprehensive, road hazard, etc?

File against the City. At least in Texas cities are liable. If it is a small city it might be difficult.

Bill W

https://www.morrisbart.com/blog/dangers-of-potholes-arkansas-who-is-liable/   This is an article by a ambulance chasing attorney.  But it may be of some help!