Berkley Wheel-Off Accident Lawyers

A wheel-off accident happens when a vehicle’s wheel separates while in motion—whether from a car, truck, trailer, or bus. This can cause a sudden loss of control or send a flying tire and rim into nearby traffic, often at highway speeds. The result is frequently devastating: multi-vehicle pileups, catastrophic injuries, or fatalities. Wheel-off crashes are almost always preventable and often trace back to improper maintenance, defective components, or negligent repair work.

At Liss, Shapero & Mitnick, we’ve spent over 25 years representing injured people in Berkley and across Metro Detroit. As Berkley’s Community Law Firm, we bring our entire team to your side from day one—attorneys, investigators, and engineering experts who understand how to secure critical evidence quickly. Because wheel-off cases hinge on preserving parts, maintenance records, and inspection data, our rapid-response approach can make the difference between a weak claim and a successful recovery.

Our guiding principle—Your Rights First—means you get clear answers, hands-on communication, and a tailored legal strategy built around your needs. We handle insurers, fleet companies, tire shops, and manufacturers so you can focus on healing. If you or a loved one was injured in a wheel-off accident anywhere in Berkley or the surrounding communities, Liss, Shapero & Mitnick is ready to fight for full accountability and the compensation you deserve.

Who May Be Liable?

Vehicle Owner / Driver

Failure to inspect, maintain, and repair the vehicle; ignoring vibration, wobble, or noise; driving on worn or mismatched hardware; skipping required service after tire/brake work.

Repair or Tire Shop

Negligent installation/torque (under- or over-torqued lugs, cross-threading, reusing damaged studs), failing to perform required re-torque checks, using uncalibrated tools, or inadequate quality control.

Fleet or Motor Carrier

Poor maintenance programs, missed inspections, pressure on drivers/mechanics to return vehicles to service, lack of documentation, and violations of company or industry safety policies.

Parts Manufacturer / Distributor

Product defects in wheels, hubs, bearings, studs, or related components—faulty design, manufacturing flaws, or inadequate warnings/instructions.

Trailer Owner / Lessor

Neglecting trailer-specific maintenance (hubs/bearings), failing to keep service records, or leasing out unsafe equipment.

Negligence vs. Product Liability in Michigan

• Negligence (most parties above): We prove a duty of care, a breach (e.g., sloppy torqueing, skipped inspection), causation, and damages.
• Product Liability (manufacturers/sellers): We pursue claims for defective design, manufacturing defects, or failure to warn/instruct when a component fails under normal, foreseeable use.

Michigan also recognizes comparative fault, so if multiple actors played a role—the shop, the fleet, and a component maker—we pursue each responsible party to maximize your recovery.

Critical Evidence in Wheel-Off Cases

Physical Components & Vehicle Inspection

• Broken parts: wheel, rim, lug nuts/studs, hub, bearings, spindle, brake hardware.
• Chain of custody: we secure and catalog each part for forensic inspection and testing.
• Vehicle tear-down: independent mechanic/engineer inspection before repairs or salvage.

Paper Trail

• Service invoices & work orders (tire/brake/alignment), technician notes, torque specs.
• Maintenance logs & policies (for fleets/motor carriers), inspection checklists, prior complaints.
• Parts records: manufacturer, lot numbers, installation dates.

Digital & Video Evidence

• EDR/telematics (speed, braking, steering inputs, fault codes).
• Dashcam/CCTV from nearby businesses, buses, homes, and traffic cams.
• Phone/location data when relevant to driver behavior.

Scene Documentation

• Photos/video of gouge marks, strike patterns, debris field, skid marks, and final rest positions.
• Measurements of road grade, lane width, lighting, and weather conditions.

Witness & Official Records

• Witness statements and contact info while memories are fresh.
• Police report (with supplement, diagrams, and cited violations).
• First-responder notes and tow/salvage records.

Why Speed Matters

Crucial evidence can disappear fast—vehicles get repaired, parts scrapped, video overwritten in days. We act immediately to:

• Send preservation (spoliation) letters to owners, fleets, shops, insurers, and manufacturers.
• Secure parts and vehicles for inspection and non-destructive testing.
• Notify businesses to retain surveillance footage and provide copies.
• Engage engineering experts early to pinpoint failure modes and liability.

Damages You May Recover

Medical Bills & Future Care

ER treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medications, therapy/rehab, medical devices, and mileage. We work with your providers to project future care (injections, revision surgery, pain management, counseling).

Lost Wages & Earning Capacity

Pay you missed while recovering, reduced hours/light duty, and diminished earning power if injuries affect your career. When helpful, we use economic and vocational experts to quantify long-term impact.

Pain & Suffering

Compensation for physical pain, loss of mobility, sleep disruption, anxiety, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life—the human costs insurers often minimize.

Scarring & Disfigurement

Visible scars, orthopedic hardware, nerve damage, and other permanent changes. We support these claims with medical opinions, photographs, and future revision estimates.

Property Damage

Vehicle repair or total loss, plus towing, storage, and personal items damaged in the crash.

Wrongful Death Damages (If Applicable)

For fatal wheel-off collisions, families may recover funeral/burial costs, final medical bills, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship/guidance, and, when supported, the decedent’s pre-death pain and suffering.

FAQ: Wheel-Off Accidents (Berkley, MI)

How do you prove a tire shop or mechanic caused the wheel-off?

We move fast to secure the parts and paperwork. Our team preserves the wheel, rim, lug nuts/studs, hub, and bearings; obtains service invoices, work orders, and torque specs; and sends preservation letters to the shop and insurer. Independent engineers then analyze failure modes (under/over-torque, cross-threading, reused/damaged studs, missed re-torque) and tie them to the shop’s procedures. We also check tool calibration records and technician notes to establish negligence—Your Rights First.

What if I recently had tire/brake service—does that help my case?

Yes. Recent service is a key lead. We use the date of service to pinpoint who touched the hardware, compare their procedures to industry standards, and look for required post-service re-torque instructions. Keep your receipt and any text/email reminders from the shop. Do not authorize repairs or return parts to the shop before we inspect and document everything.

Can multiple parties be responsible (driver, shop, manufacturer, fleet)?

Absolutely. Wheel-offs often involve shared fault: a shop’s bad torqueing, a defective component (stud/hub/bearing), a fleet’s poor maintenance policy, and even a trailer owner’s lapses. Michigan’s comparative fault rules let us pursue each negligent party—driver/owner, shop, fleet, manufacturer/distributor, or lessor—to maximize your recovery.

Should I keep the broken parts and damaged wheel?

Yes—they’re critical evidence. If safe, keep the wheel, studs, nuts, hub pieces, and any loose hardware. Don’t clean or discard anything, and avoid authorizing repairs that could disturb the evidence. We’ll arrange secure storage, maintain chain of custody, and schedule an expert inspection. If the vehicle is at a yard or shop, tell them in writing to preserve all parts until your lawyer’s inspection.

How long do wheel-off cases take, and what does it cost to hire LSM?

Timing varies with injury severity, number of defendants, and the need for engineering tests. Some cases resolve in months; complex product/maintenance cases can take longer if litigation and experts are required. Your consultation is free, and we work on contingency—you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. We explain fees and timelines up front, in plain English.

Contact Berkley Wheel-Off Accident Lawyers – Free Consultation

A wheel-off crash demands fast action. Get a local team that moves immediately to preserve parts, records, and video—Your Rights First from day one.

Call: 248-584-1300 • Toll-Free: 1-855-LISS-LAW (547-7529)
Visit: Liss, Shapero & Mitnick, 2695 Coolidge Highway, Berkley, MI 48072
Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (after-hours by appointment)

[Start Your Free Case Review] — Secure Contact Form

We work on contingency: no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

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