Poor Vehicle Maintenance

When we see a car accident – or worse, become victims of one – the thought “Okay, which driver was at fault?” immediately crosses our minds. But we tend to forget that car crashes can also be caused by factors unrelated to human error such as bad weather conditions, automobile defects, and poor vehicle maintenance.

“However, in many instances, improper vehicle maintenance is the result of negligence or carelessness on the part of the driver of that vehicle,” reminds our Seattle poor vehicle maintenance accident attorney at Russell & Hill – Injury & Accident Attorneys, a top law firm representing victims in personal injury cases in Seattle and all across Washington state.

How a driver is responsible for poor vehicle maintenance

If a car crash was caused by poor maintenance of the other driver’s vehicle, and that driver shrugs his or her shoulders and says there was nothing he/she could do to prevent this accident, we strongly encourage you to test that theory. After all, you may never receive compensation or your settlement may be very low if you agree that the car accident was caused by improper vehicle maintenance or auto defect and the driver of that vehicle cannot be blamed for the crash.

Do not be quick to accept a settlement offer from that driver’s insurance company, as you may still be able to hold the driver responsible for your resulting damages and losses if:

• The driver knew or should have known that his or her vehicle had maintenance issues and that there was the risk of causing a car crash or
• The driver failed to routinely inspect and maintain his or her vehicle properly to ensure his or her own safety, the safety of his or her passengers, and the safety of other motorists who share the road with that driver

Liability of drivers for failure to properly maintain their vehicle

Many states require motorists to make mandatory safety inspections and maintenance at least once every 12 months and, if necessary, repair or replace worn-out, broken, damaged, recalled or otherwise unsafe or dangerous parts and components in order to ensure that the automobile is in efficient working order.

“Failure to do so may expose the owner of that vehicle to liability in the event of a car crash caused by poor vehicle maintenance,” explains our experienced poor vehicle maintenance accident attorney in Seattle. “In other words, a motorist can be held liable if his or her poorly maintained vehicle causes injuries to other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, or other parties on the road.”

Most common auto maintenance issues that lead to car crashes

Some of the most common auto maintenance issues that often lead to car accidents include but are not limited to:

• Faulty brakes
• Worn-out brake pads
• Under inflation, over inflation, bald tires, and other issues related to tire pressure and tire blowout
• Faulty suspension and steering systems
• Defective or improperly maintained belts, pumps or fluids that lead to maneuvering and steering issues
• Running low on such fluids as antifreeze, coolant or wiper fluid
• Cracked windshield and
• Faulty lights or wipers

All of these vehicle maintenance issues could potentially lead to a motor vehicle collision caused by improper inspection and maintenance of the vehicle. You may be able to recover damages from the other motorist if you can prove that he or she failed to service his or her vehicle on a regular basis or if he/she did not repair or replace a faulty part or component despite failure or warning indicating that maintenance was needed.

Investigating whether or not the other motorist inspected and maintained his or her vehicle properly is quite tricky. Let our Seattle improper vehicle maintenance accident lawyers at Russell & Hill – Injury & Accident Attorneys, investigate your case and determine whether or not the other driver can be held liable for the crash. Call our offices at 206-516-2045 for a free case evaluation.