Vehicle maintenance is incredibly important in Dunwoody. Faulty or neglected maintenance can lead to brake failure, tire blowouts, and more. If maintenance problems led to your car accident, you shouldn’t have to pay for the costs.
It’s best to work with an experienced Dunwoody car accident lawyer as soon as possible. When a mechanic or another driver is at fault, your lawyer will work to hold them responsible. You likely have a personal injury case.
John Foy & Associates has been helping accident victims for over 20 years. If a maintenance issue led to your accident, we can help. Contact us today to discuss the details during a free consultation. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
Signs of Faulty or Neglected Maintenance
A car will usually tell you when something needs fixing. However, you won’t always know about faulty maintenance—until it’s too late. Still, here are some common signs that something isn’t working as it should.
Acceleration Problems
If you hit the gas, but things aren’t working correctly, that’s not a good sign. Maybe your car stalls while accelerating or takes a long time to speed up. You could have a fuel filter or spark plug issue.
Acceleration problems often cause crashes like rear-end or t-bone accidents.
Transmission Failure
Transmission issues can include shifting delays. If your car takes a while to change between speeds or directions, that’s a problem. Transmission failure can lead to severe accidents.
Battery Issues
If a car takes a while to start, it could be the battery. Battery issues can contribute to accidents or leave you stranded far from home.
Poor Fuel Mileage
Car issues can cause low fuel mileage. If you’re getting gas more often, there’s probably something you need to address. The vehicle is having to work harder than usual.
Rattling or Buzzing
Rattling, buzzing, or whining is a sign that you need maintenance. If you’ve already had worked done on the car, it could be due to faulty maintenance.
Brake Issues
Neglected maintenance can lead to brake issues over time. Not only are brake issues common, but they can also be deadly. Sudden brake failure can lead to fatal accidents.
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Faulty Repair Work in Dunwoody
One maintenance mistake can change your life forever. Cars and trucks are complicated devices, so it’s important to hire someone you trust to do the work. Faulty maintenance service can include:
- Causing more damage while doing repairs
- Installing an incorrect car part
- Leaving foreign objects inside the vehicle
- Failing to see something that needs repairs
Sometimes, you don’t notice faulty maintenance until it’s too late. The issues can lead to an accident. If that happens, you can take legal action against the repair company or mechanic.
Neglected Maintenance Can Cause Accidents
Drivers have a legal duty to drive carefully. That includes keeping up with regular inspections and necessary repairs.
According to Georgia Code § 40-8-7, no one should drive on any road unless the vehicle’s equipment is “in good working order.” The car should also be in “safe mechanical condition” to not endanger the driver or others.
Not all drivers follow the law. If someone neglects their vehicle’s maintenance needs, they put everyone at risk. The vehicle can have issues that lead to your accident.
Knowing Who’s Responsible for Your Accident
When someone’s carelessness causes your accident, they are responsible for damages like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
You can file a personal injury claim to recover your costs. However, you must know who is responsible first. The at-fault party could be:
- A mechanic
- A repair shop
- A trucking company
- Another driver
You’ll need an experienced lawyer to investigate the accident for you. They can uncover where the issue started. From there, you can know who’s responsible.
You should know that the at-fault party’s insurance company will fight back. They’ll look for ways to avoid paying your damages. The insurer might blame you for the accident or doubt your injuries. You can protect yourself by working with a trusted Dunwoody car accident lawyer.
John Foy & Associates knows how to handle insurance companies. Our founder is the “Strong Arm” because we don’t back down. We fight for what you deserve. Call (404) 400-4000 to schedule a free consultation today.
Commercial Vehicle Maintenance
Commercial companies have a higher duty of care than the average driver. They must be very careful to keep up with maintenance needs. Still, someone might neglect routine inspections or bigger issues.
Bus and trucking companies must regularly maintain, repair, and inspect their vehicles. They should also have records of all repair work and inspections. Also, drivers should watch for problems and fix them quickly.
Neglected maintenance on a commercial vehicle can cause terrible accidents. If this describes your case, talk to a lawyer today. You might have a claim against the driver or the company—or both.
Building Your Accident Case
After maintenance issues lead to your accident, document everything you can. You can paint a picture of what’s happened by:
- Reporting the accident to the police
- Getting a copy of the accident report
- Taking pictures at the scene
- Saving all evidence of your costs
- Getting medical treatment as soon as possible
- Talking to an experienced lawyer
An attorney will make sure you have all of the evidence you need. They’ll investigate any relevant maintenance records for issues. Then, you’ll know where to turn for the compensation you deserve.
Building a case after faulty or neglected vehicle maintenance is not easy. There are many details to consider, which is where an experienced lawyer can help.
Speak with a Dunwoody Car Accident Lawyer Today
At John Foy & Associates, our lawyers have been helping car accident victims for over 20 years. We’ve grown throughout Georgia and become one of the largest injury law firms. Our goal is to get you full recovery for your accident costs.
We start with a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to your story and determine your legal options. If we can help, we won’t charge you unless we win compensation for you.
Call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get your free consultation today.
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