What if the Repair Shop Caused Damage to My Car?
February 1, 2024
You trust your car to a mechanic, and you pay them a lot of money to fix it. They may not have done the work that you were expecting. You may not realize it until their poor workmanship caused you to be injured in a car accident. If the mechanic’s negligence was to blame for your car accident, you can sue them. First, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer to discuss your case.
The Auto Mechanic Owes You a Duty of Care
Many others who contact you or have a business relationship with you may also owe you a duty of care. For example, if you drop your car off at the auto mechanic, they may also owe you a duty of care to do what is reasonable under the circumstances. If you have been in a car accident and can prove that the mechanic’s negligence caused the accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
Everything that the mechanic does is crucial when they are repairing your car. A brief moment of inattention, or cutting a vital corner to save money, can lead to a car accident.
How Mechanics May Be Negligent in Repairing Your Car
Mechanics may cut corners when repairing your car by doing the following:
- Using secondhand parts when they should be repairing your vehicle with new parts.
- Not completing the job before they give you back your car.
- Covering up some of the damage and not repairing it.
- Using inexperienced mechanics to perform maintenance.
- Failure to perform quality control before giving back your car.
Common Car Accidents Caused by Negligent Auto Repair
Here are some car accidents that could be caused by negligent car repair:
- Poorly maintained brakes keep a driver from being able to stop their car in time to avoid an accident.
- A faulty transmission repair means a driver cannot control their speed.
- The mechanic does not check fluid levels on the power steering system, and the driver loses control of the car.
- Leaking oil or loose electrical wiring may cause a vehicle fire.
- You lost control of your car because the mechanic used a secondhand tire or did not install it correctly.
How to Prove the Mechanic Was to Blame
You may face challenges proving that your mechanic was to blame for the accident. You may know that you did nothing to cause the accident and that something else was at fault. You would need to take many steps to show that the mechanic was to blame.
Your legal case will begin when you hire an experienced attorney to handle your case. Your lawyer may work with experts to examine your car and any part that may have caused the accident. The first expert may have an engineering background and could determine what went wrong and what may have caused the accident.
Then, your lawyer may consult with another expert witness who understands the car repair process. They may determine what the mechanic did and compare it to the best practices that a reasonable mechanic of ordinary training would have followed when fixing your car.
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Help Car Accident Victims Claim Recoveries
If you have been injured in a crash, whether due to another driver’s negligence or a third party, our Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton can help. Call 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.