Can the mechanic be held responsible?

[Jackson-Kitty]

Hi
If a vehicle is left unattended at a auto-repair (mechanical) shop, after the mechanic has told the owner to pick the vehicle up, as he cannot work on it and the vehicle is broken into and damaged after the owner has not picked it up for several days, is the mechanic/shop owner responsible for damages?

Thanks

Meghann
Texas

 

[No lo gonna go]

First off, women shouldn't be allowed to drive. At least Saudi Arabia has one thing right.

If you parked your car at your mother-in-law's house and the radio was stolen, would you hold her responsible?

In the most basic sense, the shop owner would generally be responsible for applying reasonable care in safeguarding your vehicle. But there are many other questions that must be answered.

First off, how did the vehicle get there? Did the owner "accept" the vehicle for service or was it just dropped off? Was there an agreement to store the vehicle? Was the shop owner negligent in the way the vehicle was stored? Was the car owner negligent in the way the vehicle was left ("uh...I parked it in your lot with the keys under the seat").

In general, unless the shop owner did something careless, the vehicle owner takes the risk. Hopefully, you have insurance. But then again, if you don't, that could make one less dame on the road.....hmmmmmmm......