Is the gas station owner liable for damage done to my car while I was to trying to maneuver a way to get out of his garage bay?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Is the gas station owner liable for damage done to my car while I was to trying to maneuver a way to get out of his garage bay?

I had my car inspection done at a local gas station. When completed, I was told to move my car out of the garage bay. There were several cars in the parking lot along with cars coming in for gas. While I was doing a 3-point turn, a truck that was parked along side of the garage backed into my car causing damage. I didn’t call the police because I assumed the driver was claiming to be at fault. We exchanged insurance papers and I filled my claim. My insurance adjuster has informed me that the truck driver is claiming that it was my fault. I made the suggestion to my insurance adjuster to ask the gas station for their video footage but they are not responding. My insurance adjuster has told me that my claim will close this week if it can’t resolved. I asked my mechanic if he would be liable for damage done if a customer drove their car out of his garage bay. He told me that he doesn’t allow his customers to drive out of his bay for that reason. Is the gas station owner liable for damage done to my car while I was to trying to maneuver a way to get out of his garage bay. If there is video footage, does the gas station owner need to provide that to insurance company?

Asked on September 27, 2017 under Accident Law, Massachusetts

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 7 years ago | Contributor

The fact that the damage occurred on the gas station property does not make them liable unless it was their truck and/or their employee: if it was, you can hold them liable but if not, your recourse is against the at fault driver and the owner of the truck (if separate from the driver). If insurance is not paying due to a dispute over and inability to resolve or determine fault, you can still sue the truck's driver and owner. In the course of that lawsuit, you could subpoena the videos from the gas station--unfortunately, subpoenas can only be issued in the course of a lawsuit, and they cannot be compelled, if not a party to the lawsuit, to release the video without a subpoena. If you can prove in court, whether by credible or believable witness testimony (including your own), by videos, or otherwise that the truck driver was at fault, you can get a court judgment or order compelling the driver or owner (owners are liable for the acts of their drivers to pay)--you sue both to maximize your chance of getting money from someone. Depending on the repair cost, suing in small claims court, as your own attorney or pro se, may be a very good option.


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.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption