Can I sue a car repair shop for the damage done to my car?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I sue a car repair shop for the damage done to my car?
I paid for about a $500 for a clutch job. I received a 6 month warranty on it. Then, no more than about a month later, my transmission began to act up. I took it to a transmission repair shop because that is the closest shop and I was literally unable to move the car without risking my life. They told me that whoever put in my new clutch didn’t know what they were doing and as a result they messed up my transmission. I now have to front $1,700 to fix my car because of the poor clutch job done, am I able to sue for both the cost of my car and the cost of transportation due to not having a car for about 2 weeks?
Asked on May 8, 2017 under Business Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Yes, if someone damages your car through negligence, or unreasonable carelessness, like a bad repair, you can sue them for the costs resulting therefrom: e.g. for the cost to repair, any towing costs, renting a car (or taking a bus, etc.) while yours is in the shop, etc. For trial (assuming it does not settle by a voluntary payment ahead of trial), you would need expert testimony (e.g. from a technician at the second shop, who has examined or worked on your car) as to how the first "repair" was faulty and caused damage; the technician/expert would have to appear in court and testify in person.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.