Can a Mechanic Be Held Liable for a Car Accident?

Most vehicle accidents are caused by driver error, but mechanical failures can also cause accidents. This raises the question: Who is responsible for this type of accident?

Below, the Arnold Law Firm’s Sacramento car accident attorneys discuss mechanical failures and whether a mechanic may be held liable for a collision. If you have been injured in an accident, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our legal team today.

Statistics on Mechanical Failure Accidents

When an accident is caused by mechanical failure, it is often the result of faulty brakes, particularly in semis and other large commercial trucks.

Other common reasons for mechanical failure accidents include:

How Mechanics Could Potentially Be Liable

Drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles receive the necessary maintenance and repairs required for safe performance. If a driver fulfills this responsibility and a mechanical failure occurs, the mechanic could hold liability for the accident.

Millions of drivers trust their mechanics to perform appropriate repairs in line with professional standards to fix and prevent problems when their vehicles are out on the road.

While some automotive shops post disclaimers absolving their businesses of liability if a vehicle they work on is involved in an accident, these disclaimers may not be legally binding if they are challenged in court.

For a mechanic or automotive repair shop to be held liable, you must be able to prove certain elements existed:

• The mechanic or repair shop owed you a duty of care, which is typically proven with evidence of a transaction between a customer and a repair shop.
• The mechanic or repair shop failed to uphold their duty by acting negligently.
• This negligence resulted in your accident.
• You suffered damages as a result of the accident (medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering).

Examples of Negligent Repairs

There are many potential examples of negligent repairs or vehicle maintenance:

• Purchasing or installing incorrect components
• The use of defective replacement parts when performing vehicle repairs
• Causing damage to any part of the vehicle while making repairs
• Making incorrect or unneeded repairs to vehicles
• Failure to identify the repairs a vehicle requires
• Allowing untrained or unqualified technicians to perform work on vehicles
• Illegal vehicle modifications
• Failure to remove debris and foreign objects from a vehicle

Contact Our Licensed Lawyers for Help

If you were injured in an accident caused by mechanical failure, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The experienced attorneys at Arnold Law Firm have been representing injured clients for more than 40 years, recovering millions in compensation.

Request a free, no-obligation consultation today and learn what legal options may be available for pursuing compensation in your situation. We charge no upfront fees and payment is only due if we recover compensation on your behalf.

Call (916) 777-7777 today.