A Pittsburgh woman has filed a lawsuit against multiple automotive companies, alleging that their negligence led to a severe car accident and subsequent injuries. Teaira K. Collins filed the complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2024, targeting Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., and Champ Tires.
According to the court documents, Collins purchased a brand new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander from Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi on September 27, 2021. At the time of purchase, the vehicle was equipped with new tires that had only approximately twenty-five miles of usage. However, just six months later in March 2022, Collins noticed that her tires were significantly worn out to the point of being bald and exposing metal cords. She took her vehicle back to Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi for tire replacement on April 13, 2022. Despite keeping her car for about a week, the dealership did not replace the tires and claimed that tire replacement was not covered under any vehicle warranties.
Collins also visited Champ Tires on April 20, 2022. The company replaced only two of the defective tires without informing her about the dangers of operating a vehicle with bald tires. The following day while driving westbound on I-376, Collins lost control of her vehicle due to tire failure and collided with another car. The accident resulted in serious injuries including permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, head injury, cervical strain, back pain, headaches, neck pain, shock to nerves and anxiety.
The plaintiff accuses Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi and Champ Tires of negligence for failing to warn or inform her about the dangerous condition of her tires and allowing her to drive away with defective tires. She also holds Mitsubishi Motors North America responsible under strict product liability laws for manufacturing an unreasonably dangerous product prone to sudden wear and tear.
Collins is seeking damages exceeding the jurisdictional limits of compulsory arbitration plus interest and costs. She claims that as a result of her injuries she has suffered physical pain and mental anguish which have impaired her ability to enjoy life’s pleasures.
Representing Teaira K. Collins are attorneys Aaron H. Weiss, Athena M. Dufour and Evan J. Lingafelt from Zimmer Kunz PLLC based in Pittsburgh.