Kwik Fit - What Can I do

gracecm

My partner took my car to kwik fit today to have the back brakes checked. After taking off the back wheel on the drivers side they proceeded to take off the back wheel on the left however, as my partner did not know where I kept the wheel lock for the alloys kwik fit put the wheel they had taken off back on. Later that day whilst doing 70 mph on the motorway in the fast lane the wheel flew off. Whilst the wheel hub was scraping along the road, the brakes failed. Luckily he managed to weave through the traffic and pull over onto the hard shoulder and eventually came to a stop. Road rescue were called and the car was taken back to kwik fit who apologised and offered to sort the car out via their public liability insurance.

My partner notified my insurance company whom informed him that, if for any reason we did not want to use kwik fit insurance to let them know. Now by the time I arrived home and called my insurance company Aviva formally Norwich Union Direct - they were closed. Now I am adamant that I do not want kwik fit to touch my car again, but am I entitled to claim compensation. I am pretty sure that if I was driving the car things would not have ended as they did. I would not have had a clue what to do if my brakes had gone and the hand brake ceased to work. My son was in the car and this could have potentially been fatal. I will ring my insurance company first thing but can anyone tell me - what are my rights. I feel that what kwik fit have done is disgraceful and a repair and apology is not enough.

goldspanners

gracecm wrote: »

Now I am adamant that I do not want kwik fit to touch my car again, but am I entitled to claim compensation. I am pretty sure that if I was driving the car things would not have ended as they did. I would not have had a clue what to do if my brakes had gone and the hand brake ceased to work. My son was in the car and this could have potentially been fatal. I will ring my insurance company first thing but can anyone tell me - what are my rights. I feel that what kwik fit have done is disgraceful and a repair and apology is not enough.

thats bad news. but claiming compo for something that never happened is a bit cheeky isn't it?
you weren't driving the car and it didn't end up being fatal did it?

would a court accept "i am pretty sure that if i was driving things would have worked out different"?

on another note, i wouldn't have let kwik fit near my car in the first place. its widely known how rubbish they are.

Motmac

A wheel can't just suddenly fly off without warning....did he not feel any difference in handling or any noises before hand?

gracecm

Yeah - I thought that might be the case - I definately won't be going there again. Thanks though, nothing lost for asking. : )

gracecm

Well - I did ask that - but no, just a jerk and it flew off! He's guessing is sheared off on the spoke.

Motmac

gracecm wrote: »

Well - I did ask that - but no, just a jerk and it flew off! He's guessing is sheared off on the spoke.

With all due respect,i don't believe that...sorry :-)

gracecm

Yes it unusual - but it happend

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

That could have been a horrific accident. Loss of traction at the back is one of the worst things to happen at speed, but doubly so in this case because a wheel bouncing down the carriageway could quite easily have hit oncoming traffic—just imagine that.

Get your insurance to deal with it, and also contact the police and trading standards, because Kwik Fit could have been on a corporate manslaughter charge there.

gordikin

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

That could have been a horrific accident. Loss of traction at the back is one of the worst things to happen at speed, but doubly so in this case because a wheel bouncing down the carriageway could quite easily have hit oncoming traffic—just imagine that.

Get your insurance to deal with it, and also contact the police and trading standards, because Kwik Fit could have been on a corporate manslaughter charge there.

..if my uncle had bits (on top!), he'd be my aunt..! Grow up!

Kurtis_Blue

Motmac wrote: »

A wheel can't just suddenly fly off without warning....did he not feel any difference in handling or any noises before hand?

Of cause it can.

With regards the insurance I would suggest leaving that to Kwik fit at least claiming from their public liability will not effect your premiums, but donot do as pewpew suggests with regards contacting the Police as it is YOUR responsabilty to have a road worthy car.

gordikin

Of cause it can?...no it can't happen to anybody with any driving skill!