Failing to do regular vehicle maintenance can dramatically impact the outcome of your car accident claim in Alabama. Servicing your vehicle does more than just keep it running smoothly, it also protects you from potential liability if you get into a collision.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, our experienced Mobile car accident attorneys are prepared to manage your injury claim, building a compelling case to maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation. There are no upfront costs to hire our services, and if we don’t win, we don’t get a dime!

Request a FREE case review today. Call: 251-888-8888

What Are Alabama’s Vehicle Maintenance Laws?

Alabama has fewer requirements than other states but still maintains important safety standards that can affect your accident claim.

You must keep your vehicle in safe operation, but you do not have to get vehicle inspections. The state only requires vehicle inspections under certain circumstances, such as when transferring ownership or registering an out-of-state vehicle.

How Could Failing to Maintain My Vehicle Affect a Car Crash Claim in Alabama?

Alabama follows a strict contributory negligence rule,, so if you are deemed even one percent liable for your damages, you are fully barred from recovery any compensation.

Faulty brakes, bald tires, malfunctioning lights, or other equipment failures that may have contributed to your crash are commonly used by insurance companies as evidence of negligence.

Here’s how this negligence rule could play out in your claim:

You Failed to Maintain Your Vehicle

If your poor vehicle maintenance contributed to the crash, it gives insurance companies an easy out. Here is an example of how failing to maintain your vehicle could bar you from recovering compensation:

A driver rear-ends you at a stoplight, but during discovery, investigators find your brake lights have not worked for months. The at-fault driver’s insurance could successfully argue that functioning brake lights would have prevented the collision. Despite the other driver causing the accident, your maintenance failure may result in the complete denial of your injury claim.

The Other Driver Neglected Vehicle Maintenance

If another driver’s neglected vehicle maintenance causes your accident, it could significantly strengthen your compensation claim in Alabama. Evidence of the other driver’s maintenance failures provides clear proof of negligence for your claim. Your lawyer can subpoena the repair reports, making this documentation crucial for establishing liability.

What Common Vehicle Maintenance Issues May Lead to a Car Crash?

Poor vehicle maintenance can create dangerous conditions that lead to accidents, complicating your legal claim. Even seemingly minor maintenance issues can cause catastrophic crashes, potentially making you liable even when another driver primarily caused the crash.

• Brake System Failures: Worn pads, leaking fluid, or damaged lines that prevent proper stopping.
• Tire Problems: Inadequate tread depth, improper inflation, or sidewall damage that can lead to blowouts.
• Malfunctioning Turn Signals: Brake lights, or headlights that prevent other drivers from anticipating your movements.
• Steering and Suspension Issues: Steering system issues can cause loss of vehicle control, especially during emergency maneuvers.
• Damaged Seat Belt Systems: Increase risk of seatbelt syndrome during collisions.
• Exhaust System Problems: Potential to lead to harmful emissions entering the cabin and affecting driver awareness
• Loose or Improperly Torqued Lug Nuts: Could cause wheel detachment or loose tires.
• Windshield Damage: Cracks or scratches on the windshield obstruct driver vision or compromises structural integrity.
• Worn Wiper Blades: Blades that need replacing can smear instead of clear away water, mud or other debris, reducing visibility during adverse weather conditions.
• Fluid Leaks: Brake, transmission or power steering leaks put drivers at risk for sudden mechanical failures.

Will Insurance Cover Damages for a Crash Caused by Poor Maintenance?

Yes, damages can be obtained if another driver’s poor vehicle maintenance caused your crash, provided you are free of fault. There is the catch. In Alabama, the driver who caused the accident is financially responsible for all resulting economic and non-economic damages.

Insurance Companies Have Different Objectives Than Their Injured Policyholders

Insurance companies are notorious for using tactics to devalue or deny a victim’s claim. In Alabama, the state’s contributory negligence rule makes their goal a lot easier to achieve.

Keep in mind that the liable insurance company’s goal is not aligned with yours once a claim is made. Here’s what we mean:

• After filing a car accident claim, your goal is to recover full compensation for damages caused by someone else’s negligence.
• The insurance company’s goal is to avoid paying at all.

How Insurance Companies Use the Contributory Negligence Rule to Their Advantage

Insurers use aggressive tactics to avoid paying claims, including investigating your maintenance history to see if there is any evidence they can use to show you were one percent at fault for your crash. In Alabama, they only have to prove the victim was one percent at fault, which makes their job so much easier.

This is a major reason to seek legal help for your car crash injury. At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys we tenaciously dispute any unfair liability insurance companies try to assess against our clients.

Proving Another Driver’s Failure to Maintain a Vehicle Led to My Crash

The burden of proving the other driver’s poor vehicle maintenance caused a car accident falls on the victim. If there is no negligence, there is no case.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, you do not have to do this alone. We manage car crash cases every day and are prepared to gather compelling evidence to establish how the other driver’s negligence, including poor vehicle maintenance, caused your crash.

Evidence That Supports a Claim That a Car Crash Resulted From Poor Vehicle Maintenance

It is not enough to say someone caused your car crash or even more specifically that the crash happened because they did not keep their vehicle in safe operating condition. You must be able to prove it. How can you do that?

This is something one of our highly qualified attorneys can help you with, but key evidence that can help to support your claim includes:

The Other Driver’s Vehicle Maintenance Records

Acquiring the other driver’s maintenance history can reveal patterns of neglect and missed service appointments. This evidence may provide key insights about the neglectful care that directly contributed to the crash. For instance, if the other driver failed to replace badly worn tires. Vehicle maintenance records help to show the other driver knew about the vehicle’s issues but ignored them in a willful disregard for safety.

Automotive Recall Documentation

If the driver received notice about a vehicle recall but failed to get the recommended service or repair, it demonstrates clear negligence.

Special Maintenance Rules That May Apply in Crashes Involving Commercial Vehicles

Commercial vehicles in Alabama face significantly stricter maintenance requirements than passenger cars, which can substantially impact your accident claim. Alabama has adopted most Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) for interstate and intrastate commercial vehicles.

• Commercial vehicles must undergo mandatory annual inspections that thoroughly examine brakes, tires, lights, and other critical safety components
• Commercial drivers must maintain detailed inspection logs and vehicle maintenance records that can be demanded during investigations
• Commercial carriers must report accidents to authorities within 15 days to the Alabama Public Service Commission, and this window is shortened to 24 hours if a death occurs
• Commercial vehicles must display their USDOT number on both sides of the vehicle, making ownership easier to establish after an accident

How “Failure to Maintain” Can Be Used Against You in an Alabama Crash Claim

“Failure to maintain” laws not only cover controlling your vehicle safely but also the basic upkeep of your car. Insurers and defense lawyers will comb through repair records, tire depths, and inspection reports looking for any signs of mechanical defect. Spotting a bald tire or squeaky brake pads gives them an opening to cast fault and potentially shut down your claim entirely.

Why Keeping Accurate Records of Your Vehicle Maintenance Is a Good Idea

Insurance companies aggressively investigate maintenance issues to shift blame and deny claims. Your detailed documentation can protect you against allegations that your vehicle’s condition contributed to the crash.

• Maintenance records provide evidence that you fulfilled your legal duty of care to keep your vehicle in safe operating conditions.
• Documented regular maintenance helps counter accusations that you knowingly drove with unsafe equipment.
• Professional mechanic inspections verify that critical components like brakes, tires, and lights met safety standards before the accident.

When to Contact a Mobile Car Crash Attorney for Legal Help

Contacting Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys immediately after a crash can mean the difference between receiving fair compensation and having your claim denied. This is why it is important to act quickly after an accident to ensure critical evidence is preserved. Filing deadlines apply as well, as your claim must be filed within the state’s statute of limitations.

• Before speaking with insurance adjusters who may try to convince you that your injuries are minor or that you are partially to blame for the accident
• If maintenance issues may be a contributing factor to the accident
• When medical bills are piling up or you are unable to return to work
• Determining liability after a hit-and-run accident, as these cases require specialized investigation techniques
• If insurance adjusters are drawing out the claims process

Injured in a Car Accident? Contact our trusted Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys today

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we understand how maintenance issues impact your car accident claim. Our dedicated car accident attorneys thoroughly investigate all maintenance factors and build compelling evidence that protects your right to maximum compensation.

We handle every aspect of your case with no upfront costs or fees—you pay nothing unless we win. Do not risk having your claim denied because of maintenance-related accusations.

Contact our Mobile office today at or complete our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation about your accident case.

“I win or you don’t owe me a dime.” 251-888-8888