In Arizona, and elsewhere, auto mechanics can be held liable for injuries that are caused due to their negligent, reckless, or intentional misconduct in handling your vehicle while it’s “in the shop.” The strong possibility of auto mechanic liability in a motor vehicle accident scenario can come as something of a surprise to those who are not aware of how fault can be distributed to multiple defendants.
Auto mechanics must act with reasonable care while your vehicle (or the defendant-driver’s vehicle) is in their possession. Failure to adhere to the standard of care, given the circumstances, could result in the attachment of liability.
Standard of Care
The standard of care in any given situation is influenced by a number of factors. The duty of reasonable care is not universal. This applies to auto mechanics as well. The standard of care will be influenced by factors that include, but are not necessarily limited, to:
- Training and experience of the mechanic
- Nature of the defect requiring repair
- Obviousness of the defect
- Cost and expectations relating to the repair
- Whether the owner/driver has been notified as to discovered defects
- And more
For example, an auto mechanic who is conducting an inspection on a vehicle that has a non-obvious, extremely rare defect would not necessarily be negligent for failing to discover said defect. An auto mechanic who fails to identify faulty brakes, on the other hand, would likely be found negligent for failing to do so.
How Liability Falls on the Mechanic
Auto mechanic liability is rather useful for all parties (except the mechanic, of course) involved in litigation. If you are the injured victim in a motor vehicle accident, then being able to sue the mechanic for failing to properly inspect or repair the vehicle at-issue can give you access to substantial financial resources and insurance coverage that the driver may not have. On the other hand, if you are the defendant-driver in a motor vehicle accident, but your car was simply unresponsive or defective at the time of the accident, then you can shift liability to the mechanic who actually is responsible for the defect.
Auto mechanics may be found liable for a broad range of actions that include, but are not necessarily limited, to:
- Failing to notify the owner/driver as to inherent dangers
- Failing to properly inspect the vehicle to discover defects
- Failing to repair discovered defects (or notify the owner/driver)
- Performing work that was not authorized by the owner/driver
- Modifying the vehicle in a way that creates a heightened risk of injury
- And more
Contact an Experienced Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident in Arizona, you may not only be entitled to litigate injury claims against the defendant-driver, but you may also be entitled to litigate injury claims against the auto mechanic, assuming that the circumstances demonstrate that the mechanic significantly contributed the the accident. Get in touch with an experienced Arizona motor vehicle accident attorney here at Hirsch & Lyon for further guidance on how to move forward with your lawsuit.
Call (602) 535-1900 today to speak with an experienced Phoenix car accident lawyer.