When people take their vehicles to a mechanic, they expect that those repairs or maintenance tasks will be performed properly. We rely on mechanics to keep vehicles running safely—especially since the average person may not be able to perform those tasks on our own. When a mechanic is negligent, they may be held responsible for any resulting accidents.
A repair shop’s duty of care
Auto repair shops—and their mechanics—have a duty to keep vehicles in proper working order, which is governed by the industry’s professional standards. When a mechanic fails to correctly diagnose and repair a vehicle issue, and a collision results, they may be liable for the damages.
While some shops post disclaimers about vehicle or accident damage resulting from repairs, those are not necessarily a bar to recovery. It’s important to talk to an accident attorney. You may be able to hold the shop responsible for their part in your accident.
Negligent repairs may include, but are not limited to:
- Allowing unqualified and/or untrained mechanics to perform repair work
- Damaging other parts of the vehicle during the work
- Failing to complete necessary repairs
- Failing to diagnose necessary repairs
- Illegally modifying vehicle parts
- Leaving debris and/or other foreign objects in the vehicle
- Performing unnecessary or incorrect repairs
- Using an incorrect replacement part
To hold a defendant liable for negligent repairs, a plaintiff must prove that they owed a duty of care, failed to meet that duty and as a result, the plaintiff was actually harmed. Note that it can be difficult to prove an auto shop is responsible for damages. It’s important to work with experienced attorneys in the field.
If you suspect that your vehicle accident was a result of improper or inadequate mechanical repair, a skilled accident attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh in Sarasota, FL can help. Call today to learn more about your legal options.