Towing Issues: damages while towing, wheel studs, brooklyn bridge

Question
I broke down on the Brooklyn Bridge when my right back wheel broke off the hub. I called a towing company and it send a flat bed  -but since it was the back wheel off the car was sitting tilted on the ground on the right side. The driver pulled the car up to the flat bed dragging along the pavement road breaking off the exposed axile and cauing the brake line to leak.

i have two questions  1- how can I prove what happened and how can i get compensated from the towing company the damages are now over $2000

2- the problem I have is this towing company only took me off the bridge as allowed by law  put the down and off the flat bed and then another towing company came and picked me up and towed me to the mechanic  

I waited three hours for the second tow and a pool the liquid gathered under the car while i waited   but with two towings   -tow A might blame tow B so how do I go about resolving this problem

Do I have to sue both companies or the one I think did the most damages

damages include broken axiles, broken brake line, bearing, shokes and more  - the mechanic says the car was bang around with strong force

I thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

rechy ortner

Answer
Ok first of all, the wheel falling off the vehicle will cause damage to brake parts and suspension parts. Brake shoes, backing pads, brake lines, shocks all will get some damage along with the fenders and in some cases bumpers and exhaust systems when they are dropped to the ground when the wheel is gone.

Now for what you say for damages to the vehicle done by the first towing company. I hate to say it but it sounds like one of those services provided under contract to keep traffic moving . They unfortunately for you have a bit of protection from lawsuits for damages. Main goal is to get the roadway open, this is also called "incident management response"

Now any time that a vehicle loses a wheel its usually because the wheel studs and lug nut assembly broke, or the rear axle housing (based on your information ) comes loose and comes out or completely snaps off inside and backs out of the housing.
Damage does happen at this point, and towing it can make it worse.  Usually best methods of towing is to lift at the end with the problem but that is not always possible due to locations of breakdowns or accidents.
Now I am not going to say that the tow truck driver did damage the vehicle due to inexperience or lack of training and knowledge but its a possibility.  I was not there so I do not know exactly what was done and all that.  

Ok now for tow company 2, who took you to the repair shop, I do not know what kind of truck they had, and what kind of area around your vehicle they had to work with at that point. But  at this point damage most likely was done by tow company 1. (remember what I mentioned about the incident management issue)

Now hopefully tow company 2 did tow the vehicle in a better manner to the repair shop because they might of had more time to do the job correctly. Just a thought here.

Now as to suing the tow companies, you can always sue them in small claims court for damages done, but you will have a tough time proving that all the damage was done by tow company 1 and or 2 or the combination of both. Remember when the wheel fell off you were not standing still, your vehicle was moving at a speed where damage can and will happen.  That is a great impact force at that point and I am sure when it happened the sparks flew from metal dragging on the ground.

Could it be divided up between all the parties involved? maybe but remember its a court issue at that point and what ever is decided is likely not to cover everything or worse yet you might loose.

Hope this helps you decide what to do, but I think its going to be hard to prove who did what, and who gets blamed the most.