Faulty Repair Accident Claims

When you bring your car into the shop, you trust that the mechanic will perform the needed maintenance and repairs in a professional and competent manner. When a repair is not done correctly, the consequences can range from an annoying noise to a horrendous accident. 

If you are a victim of a motor vehicle accident caused by a faulty repair, it’s essential that you reach out to an experienced Phoenix auto accident attorney who knows how to protect your rights and will fight to receive the most compensation possible.

The Role of the Repair Shop

Mechanics don’t need to be licensed in Arizona, but many are. Regardless, customers expect the person working on their car to have the skills necessary to ensure that the vehicle is safe to drive.

That said, accidents caused by negligent repairs are more common than you might expect. They are often caused by the mechanic not correcting a problem, missing a significant issue, not installing replacement parts correctly, not following maintenance protocols and procedures, accidentally damaging the car while doing a repair, or leaving something inside the engine.

Proving an Accident Is Due to a Faulty Repair

In Arizona, the repair shop or mechanic is usually responsible for an accident caused by a faulty repair. They could be held liable for property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Proving an accident was caused by a faulty repair can get complicated. The repair shop may try to deflect responsibility by saying the accident was a result of poor driving or skipped maintenance after they worked on the car.

Some of the ways you can tell a faulty repair is responsible for an accident are if the repair was done recently, there were ongoing problems after the repair, or signs of a malfunction cropped up immediately after the service.

To support a claim that the accident was the shop’s fault, evidence needs to be collected, and an accident fault determination needs to be made. This may involve an in-depth review of the work order, photographs of the faulty repair and accident scene, police reports, medical records, maintenance and repair history, video surveillance of the scene and surrounding area, road and weather conditions, and more. Attorneys also often hire third-party mechanics and accident reconstruction specialists to analyze and provide expert opinions.

Steps to Prove an Accident Was Caused by a Faulty Repair

1. Check the timing: See if the accident happened soon after the repair was completed. 
2. Watch for warning signs: Note if the vehicle showed continued or new issues after service. 
3. Collect documentation: Keep repair invoices, photos, police reports, and medical records. 
4. Seek expert opinions: Get an independent mechanic or accident expert to review the repair. 
5. Contact an attorney: A lawyer can connect the evidence and pursue fair compensation.

Quick Tip: The stronger the paper trail and expert support, the easier it is to show the repair directly caused the accident.

A Skilled Attorney Is Essential

Arizona is a comparative negligence state. This means that if different parties are found to each be partially responsible for an accident, the accident compensation for mechanical failure is shared according to the percentage of responsibility.

If you believe a recent repair caused your car accident, it’s crucial to contact Gage Mathers as soon as possible to discuss next steps. An reputable personal injury attorney will give you an honest opinion about the potential for a settlement and compile and present evidence to strengthen your claim.

The Gage Mathers Law Group has five decades of proven experience winning cases for victims in personal liability cases. Contact us today to learn about our 99% success rate, how we recovered $275 million for our clients, and what we can do for you!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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