2 BRAND NEW tires put on my car..that day..the back wheel FELL OFF at 70mph!! What should I do next?

Question

Here's the scoop, I was in basically an emergency situation, I had to get 2 new tires on my car and I had to get them that day. I was going on a long trip to help my family move out of the house that got foreclosed (unfortunately). Time was of the essence...I went to a "certain" tire place and received two brand new tires to replace my used ones up front, they rotated them to the back. about 200 miles down the road (that same day) One of the back brand new tires fell off the car, yes FELL OFF. Thank God it was 2a.m. and not that many cars on the highway, I saved it from slamming into the median wall and then slid across 4 lanes of highway traffic. I was late getting to my Uhaul appt., the rental car they approved took 2hrs. to go through and they shipped my car back up to the dealership because they could not repair the major damage. I just want some serious advice on what my next steps should be?? I am luck to be alive. NOTE: I own a 2002 Infiniti Qx4.

Answer 1

The first thing you should've done was call the police and have him fill out a report so you would have proof of what happened then I would sue the people that didn't put my wheel on right.

Answer 2

It is very simple, just call the manager of the store that installed the tires and give them the receipts and tell them what you want, plain and simple because he be a fool if he did not take care of this before it got out of hand...

Answer 3

I hope you kept your receipts from the place where the installation of the two new tires was done and the name of the mechanic who did the work. Double check the speed limits in the vicinity where the tire fell off.  I am not certain where the speed limit would be 70 MPH, in which case YOU could have a problem with the law.  If you were legal when that happened, then,  you should inform your auto insurance company about what happened and speak to an attorney about the liability of the business where the tire that fell off was installed.  You might have a case under those circumstances.

Answer 4

did just the tire come off or did the wheel come off. if it was the wheel where you got your tires did not tighten the lugs. I agree you should have called the police.

Answer 5

If no one was hurt and they pay for the damage, that should be enough for you.  If you feel that they are dangerous, and that this was not merely a random mistake anyone could make, then, after you receive whatever money or repairs they owe you, report them to whatever government agency licenses them (bureau of auto repair, for example).  

If anyone has hurt or they do not pay for the damage, get a lawyer.

Answer 6

Stepat had a good idea, to call the police and file an accident report.  I didn't think of that.

I would call the place that put the tires on and ask to speak to the manager or, better yet, the owner.  My first consideration would be to let him know that someone in his outfit screwed up, and that lives may be at stake.  If he's a good manager or owner he will WANT to hear about this, especially what time you were there, and who worked on your car.  If he runs a good shop, he will be able to look up the records immediately to find out who worked on your car.  

A good manager realizes that this is HIS responsibility.  He should -thank- you for letting him know so he can take corrective action and perhaps even save lives.  A good, responsible business owner or manager has nightmares about this kind of thing. (I speak from experience here.)  Also he has insurance for this kind of thing.  He should want to make it good to you, not just to apologize but compensate you economically for whatever damage was done to your car.  If I were you, I wouldn't try to cheat him out of extra money for 'pain and suffering' if nobody was hurt.

If you felt he didn't do right by you, I would take him to small claims court.  But again, you are only after the money it cost to fix your car, not punitive damages or pain and suffering or anything like that (so long as nobody was hurt).

I only mention this because these days people who have been in a small accident often behave as if they have won the lottery.  You have a right to have this made up to you, not to exploit it.