More often than not, whenever we get into a car accident and the other driver is trying to put the blame onto the auto manufacturer or auto mechanic for selling a defective vehicle or failing to properly inspect and maintain a vehicle, respectively, our first response is, “Yeah, right, why don’t you just get a grip and assume responsibility?”

However, it is true that in some cases, car accidents can be caused by poor vehicle maintenance, the driver whose vehicle was improperly maintained may still be held liable for the resulting injuries if the injured party can prove that this driver (a) was aware of the maintenance issue and failed to repair or replace it in a timely manner, or (b) failed to regularly inspect and maintain his or her vehicle, as required by Pennsylvania law.

“If your car accident was caused by poor vehicle maintenance and you can prove that the driver of that vehicle was negligent or careless, which ultimately caused the crash, you may be able to sue that driver,” explains our Philadelphia poor vehicle maintenance accident attorney at Dan Doyle Law Group. In some instances, the driver can be held partially responsible for causing the crash, while the auto manufacturer or mechanic will also share liability.

Can You Be Compensated For An Accident Caused By Poor Vehicle Maintenance In Philadelphia?

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by poor vehicle maintenance in Philadelphia, there should be various types of compensation available for your claim. So long as you can provide proof that another party caused your crash (i.e. a negligent vehicle owner, vehicle dealer, maintenance professional, vehicle manufacturer, etc.), injury victims should be able to recover compensation.

At the Dan Doyle Law Group, our qualified vehicle maintenance accident lawyers are regularly able to help clients recover the following:

  • Full compensation for medical bills
  • Lost income if a victim is unable to work
  • Household out-of-pocket expenses a victim incurs
  • Property damage expenses
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of quality of life damages

A lawyer from the Dan Doyle Law Group can use its resources to fully investigate the claim to determine liability. Additionally, they can work with trusted economic and medical professionals to help calculate their client’s total losses in an effort to secure maximum compensation.

Is the driver responsible for poor vehicle maintenance?

Since it will be much easier to recover damages from the driver of the vehicle that was not properly maintained than from an auto manufacturer or mechanic, you will have to investigate the real cause of your car crash even if the other driver makes a puppy face and tells you that it was beyond his or her control.

You will most likely need to seek legal advice from an experienced poor vehicle maintenance accident attorney in Philadelphia or elsewhere in Pennsylvania to gather sufficient evidence proving one of the following theories:

  • The motorist was aware or should have been aware of a maintenance issue in his or her vehicle and the risk of getting into a motor vehicle collision or
  • The motorist did not routinely inspect his or her vehicle and failed to maintain it properly to not endanger others.

A duty to inspect and maintain a vehicle

More often than not, a motorist can be held responsible for failure to properly inspect and maintain his or her vehicle if that driver did not conduct safety inspections at least once every 12 months. If a safety inspection identifies a maintenance issue, the driver has a legal duty to repair or replace worn-out, broken, damaged, faulty, defective, or otherwise unsafe parts and components in the vehicle.

Failure to do so exposes a motorist to the increased risk of causing a car accident, and, as a result, exposes that driver to a potential personal injury lawsuit if the accident causes bodily injury due to the driver’s failure to properly maintain the vehicle.

Causes of poor vehicle maintenance accidents

You may be able to seek compensation in the event of a motor vehicle accident caused by poor vehicle maintenance if your car crash involved any of the following issues:

What Is The Time Limit To File A Lawsuit For An Accident Caused By Poor Vehicle Maintenance In Philadelphia?

Victims of any vehicle accident caused by another party’s negligence in Philadelphia need to be aware that they have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit to recover compensation. The personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date the accident occurs. This means that Philadelphia crash victims have a two-year window with which to file a lawsuit against the alleged driver, maintenance professional, or vehicle manufacturer in these cases.

However, please be advised that auto insurance carriers have their own reporting deadlines that you need to be aware of. A failure to promptly report an accident to the insurance carrier could result in a claim delay or denial.

Injuries Caused By Poor Vehicle Maintenance Crashes

Crashes caused by poor vehicle maintenance in Philadelphia often result in severe injuries for victims. It is not uncommon for the car accident attorneys at the Dan Doyle Law Group to help clients who have sustained the following:

  • Broken or dislocated bones
  • Open head wounds
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord trauma with paralysis
  • Other severe neck or back injuries
  • Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
  • Crush injuries or amputations
  • Internal bleeding or internal organ damage

Our lawyers also help clients who are dealing with significant emotional and psychological trauma in the aftermath of an accident. While these injuries may not be as visible as the acute traumatic injuries listed above, they can be just as detrimental to the well-being of our clients, and we will fight to secure compensation on their behalf.

Contact A Lawyer For A Free Consultation Of Your Poor Vehicle Maintenance Case

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by poor vehicle maintenance, it is a good idea to consult with a Philadelphia maintenance-related car accident lawyer at Dan Doyle Law Group to establish liability and help you recover damages. Call our law firm for a free case evaluation.