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What legal authority do I have with our situation involving a rented motorhome?

Hello my family and I rented a motorhome for the weekend and today we were driving it and the wheel fell off (all the lug nuts had fallen off) and we momentarily lost control of the steering with the vehicle but luckily were able to get it to the side of the road off the highway. We ended our rental and the supervisor and mechanic came out to the site and repaired the broken wheel and in the meantime we took off back home in the new motorhome they brought out (we returned it the same day as we were gonna finish our contract in light of what happen).

I'm not trying to milk money from the company but want to be prepared (possibly to go to court if needed) in case they offer me any resistance as I believe we are at least entitled to a full refund of all 3 days, so what should my legal standpoint be? Negligence on their part? The supervisor already mentioned someone will lose their job over this. I have a copy of the contract and I took some pictures while we were out there stranded. Thanks in advance
Well we rented on Saturday at 5pm, we got stranded on Monday at about 2pm and we were there until about 4:30pm or so. We were due to return the rental Tuesday at 5pm but returned it after the incident.
maybe you all aren't understanding..we are talking about alaska highways..cliffs, narrow roads..that tire was actually damaged i believe the lugs are no longer intact. Had it happened about 15 seconds early i would have probably lost control and veered into the other lane or overrun the guardrail.

Public Comments

1. Be polite and try to find something they can agree with. Maybe they can't give you your money back, but they can give you a 3 day credit for another vacation.

Remind them that their mistake was a big inconvenience - as well as a frightening experience - on an otherwise relaxing vacation.

2. Unless you are a sworn police officer or an officer of the court you have no legal authority. I don't see that you have any legal complaint. You got to finish your trip. You don't say how long you were stranded but it sounds like you got to enjoy your vacation.

3. Hartaguey v. Midway Motor Homes, 456 F3d 340 (7th Cir 2007). Just be nice and tell the truth.

4. Maybe one day refund as you took it back early. Certainly not 3 days as you had all Sat, Sun a d some of Monday. Accidents happen but within 2.5 hours they brought a new one and you were back on the road. How were you harmed? Who could say who loosened the lug nuts? Just be thankful no one was hurt and they aren't coming after you fir damages to vehicle and they had you back on road in very reasonable time. Had you had a flat it wouldn't have been much faster. Everyone isn't negligent in an accident. I hope you get the one unused day back but I figure you were heading home anyway.

Don't be so suit happy. Be thankful that things worked out as well as it did. If you had injuries it might be somewhat different. They sounded most gracious to me.

I had a flat in a rental car and didn't buy insurance and replaced the tire myself with a used good tire. Cost me about $40. New tire was $160 or so for some if the new tires. You didn't have to pay and no one was hurt.