The term 'lurched side-to-side' can be described as careening, which is an 8-letter word. Careening is a nautical term that means to lean or tilt to one side, usually due to strong winds or waves. It is also used to describe a vehicle that is moving erratically and uncontrollably. In this context, the term 'lurched side-to-side' implies that something was moving in an uncontrolled and unsteady manner.