Oil Change Customer Sued for Death in Car Service Center Incident

Crazy Lawsuit? It’s the Law

Here’s a recent bit about a lawsuit that while might seem crazy, is believable given the nature of car insurance and a litigious society.

According to today’s Steve Lehto YouTube channel episode, a car owner is being sued for the death of a service tech who was fatally injured while another service tech was working on the owner’s car performing an oil change.

Semi-related article: Scare Tactic Scam from Lube Center Caught with Second Opinion

The story goes that the owner had left his Jeep behind at a service center for an oil change. The service tech working on the Jeep it turns out was a 19-year-old who did not know how to use a stick shift and did not even have a driver’s license. Sometime during the oil change, the service tech got behind the wheel of the running Jeep and reportedly his foot slipped off the clutch resulting in the Jeep lurching forward and fatally crushing another tech standing in front of the vehicle.

While a tragedy, it gets even worse as it turns out that the only person being held culpable is the owner of the car!

The point of this piece is that there are several situations in which you hand the keys to your car to someone else that could result in a lawsuit placing you at fault. For example, anytime you need to have your vehicle towed. Or whenever you utilize a parking valet service. And let’s not forget about car wash and detailing services; or handing your keys to a bartender to avoid driving drunk.

Depending on your state and its insurance laws, you are very likely to be held responsible---especially when a lawyer is looking for someone with the deepest pockets that are the easiest to pick.

To learn more about the incident and Steve’s take on the law, here is the video in its entirety that is a good reminder that you can be sued for just about anything today and why carrying more than enough liability insurance may be a car owner's only protection.

Oil Change Customer Sued After Worker Kills Someone w/Car

And finally…

For additional articles about car ownership and insurance or lawsuits, here are two for your consideration:

• Consumer Reports Discusses When Your Car’s Lawsuit Avoidance Safety Feature Fails

• The Biggest Mistake Consumers Make After Finding a Car Insurer They Trust

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Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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