Shock absorbers are extremely important components of your car, especially the rear shocks that absorb a lot of the impact on the rest of the car when it hits bumps and obstacles on the road. Driving without shocks can be both uncomfortable and even illegal in many states.
If you have had an accident in which your shocks are damaged and believe that it wasn’t your fault, you should consider making a claim for compensation. Even if you live in a no-fault state and have your own PIP insurance, this won’t cover damage to your vehicle caused by negligence on the part of someone else or an organization or government department. If your claim is large, you should consider using a personal injury attorney to provide legal help.
Compensation for Damaged Shock Absorbers
Replacing damaged shock absorbers isn’t cheap. You have to have your car taken to a auto body shop and the mechanic will need to source the shocks and spend time taking the old ones off and replacing them with new ones.
Even if only a single shock is damaged on one side, the mechanic will advise replacement of both the two sides to ensure there is balance. The total cost of the repair will be the spare parts plus the labor and the cost of using public transport, a taxi or renting another car while your car is unusable or being repaired.
The actual bill will depend on the model of your vehicle and how long it takes to source a replacement, as this will affect how long you have to have alternative transport. An average quote for a rear shock replacement could vary between $410 and $1,000, depending on model and local labor costs.
You Must Prove That You Were Not at Fault
Shock absorbers do wear out over time, but usually there is plenty of notice that they are nearing the end of their useful life. If shock absorbers suddenly fail, the usual reason is that they are defective parts or weren’t fitted properly, or you hit something in the road that put extreme stress on your vehicle.
As long as you can pinpoint the reason for the shock failure you have a good basis for making a claim. A mechanic should be able to assess the reason for failure and this can help you identify who to make a claim against.
Once you have identified the at-fault party, it will be important to file the claim with their insurer with evidence to back up your claim. Photos of the failed shocks and a report from the car yard where they are being repaired will help to support your claim.
How a PI Lawyer Can Help With a Claim
If the repair bill for your damages shocks is likely to be high, or you have encountered resistance from the person or company whose negligence you believe was responsible for the damage, you may find a personal injury attorney very helpful. To get started, fill out the Free Case Evaluation on this page.
