Negligent car maintenance is one of the top causes of car accidents in Chicago, Illinois. Negligently maintained cars are likely to have malfunctioned headlights, faulty brakes, worn tires, and faulty steering. These maintenance issues may make the vehicle difficult to control, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.
Car owners are often the liable parties for accidents stemming from poorly maintained cars. This is because owners have a primary duty to maintain their vehicles. Other liable parties include auto dealerships, auto repair shops, and manufacturers. So, if you sustained injuries in a car accident, it’s important to investigate if negligent car maintenance could have contributed to the accident.
Experienced car accident attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law will carefully review your case and help you recover reasonable compensation from the liable party. Call us at (773) 838-8100 for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
How Negligent Car Maintenance Contributes to Car Accidents in Chicago
Poorly maintained car components and systems can lead to accidents in various ways, including:
- Broken down or burned-out headlights or taillights can reduce visibility at night
- A defective transmission system can cause a car to accelerate and decelerate uncontrollably
- A faulty steering system makes it challenging to maneuver the car, causing the driver to lose control
- Faulty brakes make it impossible to stop the vehicle, causing rear-end crashes
- Old, balding tires cause vehicles to lose traction, increasing the risk of accidents
- An overheated motor can cause an unexpected breakdown at a crash-prone spot
Common Types of Negligent Car Maintenance That Lead to Accidents
Chicago recorded 85,982 motor vehicle crashes in 2023. Injury crashes were 19,324, while fatal crashes were 80. Besides driver negligence, negligent car maintenance contributes to many car crashes in Chicago, Illinois.
The parties involved in car maintenance include vehicle owners, repair shops, dealerships, and manufacturers. These parties often indulge in various forms of negligent behavior that result in faulty vehicle parts and systems that cause car accidents. Thus, multiple parties may be responsible for an accident caused by reckless car maintenance.
Vehicle Manufacturer Negligence
A vehicle manufacturer may be liable if it rolled out a vehicle model with a mechanical issue or defective part that caused an accident. An automaker may also be at fault if an accident happened because of its failure to inform customers of the inherent risks of operating its products, including issues with batteries, seats, or airbags.
Car Dealership Negligence
The law prohibits auto dealers from selling recalled vehicles and components. Some dealerships ignore recall orders and sell vehicles to clients without fixing the problem. That’s a common occurrence in used or pre-owned car dealerships. The dealership may bear liability if a “would-have-been-recalled” vehicle gets involved in an accident.
Negligent auto care in dealerships may also occur when a car seller indulges in unethical behavior, such as bait-and-switch advertising, misrepresentations of product features, or misinformation about vehicle history and condition.
Negligence at Auto Repair Shops
Many drivers take their vehicles to auto repair centers for repair services they can’t perform themselves. Repair technicians must be competent in their job and provide quality repairs. If the damage is beyond repair, the mechanic has the legal responsibility to advise the client that the car is unsafe and not in good condition for driving.
The auto repair shop may bear liability if an accident occurs because of:
- Poor or incomplete repairs that fall short of the industry’s quality standards
- Using defective replacement parts
- Damages to other components and systems during repairs
- Negligence in diagnosing mechanical issues, resulting in unnecessary repairs
Why You Need a Lawyer to Pursue a Case
Car accident lawyers are a valuable resource when pursuing a civil case involving negligent car maintenance. They understand the legal process and will provide assistance from the start to the end of your case.
But how much do car accident lawyers charge? Most car accident lawyers provide their legal services on a contingency basis. This arrangement means you only pay after securing compensation through an out-of-court settlement agreement or court verdict. Your lawyer may take 25-40% of the compensation amount, depending on the agreement you entered.
A car accident attorney can benefit you in the following ways:
Investigating the Accident to Establish Liability
Your attorney can conduct a car accident investigation to determine the at-fault party. Your attorney will gather evidence by retrieving and analyzing police reports, eyewitness accounts, and photographs and videos of the accident scene. The attorney will also obtain and analyze video surveillance footage from nearby establishments and the vehicle Black Box data to determine who is at fault for the accident.
Illinois follows the “modified comparative negligence” rule that allows you to recover damages, provided you contributed 50% or less to the collision. So, your lawyer will ensure the other party does not unfairly transfer liability to you to lower your compensation. The lawyer will also try to minimize your percentage of fault if investigations show that you contributed to the accident.
Dealing with Insurers
Communication and negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurer can overwhelm an accident victim. Insurance companies often exploit victims’ limited legal knowledge and trick them into accepting unfair settlements.
You don’t have to worry about the deceitful tricks that insurance companies use to devalue or deny your claim with an accident lawyer on your side. Your lawyer will initiate and maintain correspondence with the insurer. The lawyer will use his or her negotiation skills to ensure you receive fair compensation.
The lawyer will not hesitate to take your case to trial if the insurer fails to provide an acceptable settlement. An experienced lawyer knows the car accident case timeline and can accurately predict when your case will settle.
The legal team at Lloyd Miller Law will aggressively fight to secure the compensation you need to recover physically, emotionally, and financially after getting injured in an accident caused by negligent car maintenance. We have a three times higher success rate than an average law firm. Contact us today to learn how our seasoned lawyers can help you.
