Most of us rely on our car to get to work, buy stores and go visiting anyone who we want to visit. We expect public roads like state and federal highways to be maintained and in good condition.
Poorly maintained roads can cause serious damage to shock absorbers as they are often the parts of the car that are designed to absorb the shock of driving over uneven surfaces.
If you believe that your damaged shocks were caused by poor highway maintenance you may be able to claim compensation. This can be challenging if you are attempting to make a claim against a government agency. You may need help from an experienced attorney.
The Cost of Fixing Damaged Shock Absorbers After a Car Accident
If your shock absorbers are damaged, it can be dangerous to drive your car, as the lack of a proper suspension system makes it difficult to control the car, especially on rougher surfaces.
Replacing your shock absorbers can be done yourself if you have the technical knowledge, but most people prefer to have it done professionally. When one shock absorber is damaged, usually all four are replaced or at least the set at the front or the rear of the vehicle.
The replacement cost for a middle of the road car could be anything up to $1,500, including labor. More luxurious car shock absorbers may cost up to $5,000 to replace.
In addition to the actual cost of replacing the shock absorbers is compensation for the ‘inconvenience’ of losing use of your car for however long it takes to repair it.
Evidence is Required to Prove Fault in an Accident That Has Caused a Damaged Shock Absorber
No insurer is going to accept a claim unless there is evidence that damage has been done and that the damage was caused by negligence on the part of their clients.
In the case of damaged shocks, a report from the repair mechanic who repairs your shocks can help support your claim.
Photos taken of the state of the road you believe caused the damage can be useful, especially if you can explain that you need to use the road because of your job.
An attorney can help obtain details about the maintenance schedule, or lack of maintenance done on that stretch of highway. This can help to provide evidence for the reason why you are claiming that those in charge of maintenance were negligent.
Reasons to Work With an Attorney
Claiming compensation for the damage to your car is likely to involve making a claim against a government agency.
This can be hard as government entities have special rules for insurance claims. The statute of limitations, i.e. the time limit is normally much shorter than claims made against private individuals.
Talk to an attorney before making a claim against the government agency responsible for poor highway maintenance.
