Mechanic error left me without brakes (1 Viewer)

[CletiusMaximus]

People suing at the drop of a hat are a big reason why things cost so much, why common sense has to be labeled on packages, why physicians need hundreds of thousands in malpractice insurance, why medicine commercials have to list out every possible warning, etc.. Rather than just using the legal system to get rid of the true incompetent or dangerous people, many folks will sue at the first sign of an issue.

This notion is 90% myth imo - one that is heavily backed by well-funded industries (insurance, health care) and trade groups (AMA).

So why do we have to write on plastic bags not to put it on our heads? Why is every drug commercial 25% of the maybe just a little tiny bit maybe side effects you can have? To say that our litigatous society hasn’t impacted consumer cost is not correct. We can certainly argue about the degree of that cost.

Manufacturers have to put warnings on products due to FTC consumer protection regulations. Pharma ads list absurdly-long potential side effects due to FDA regulations. Neither of these have anything to do with lawsuits. Doctors in most states pay very little for malpractice insurance. Malpractice claims are severely limited, with damages capped in many/most states due in large part to the propaganda efforts of the insurance companies that lead people to believe lawsuits are driving doctors out of business, raising insurance costs and prices.

 

[Genxersrule]

People suing at the drop of a hat are a big reason why things cost so much, why common sense has to be labeled on packages, why physicians need hundreds of thousands in malpractice insurance, why medicine commercials have to list out every possible warning, etc.. Rather than just using the legal system to get rid of the true incompetent or dangerous people, many folks will sue at the first sign of an issue.

This notion is 90% myth imo - one that is heavily backed by well-funded industries (insurance, health care) and trade groups (AMA).

So why do we have to write on plastic bags not to put it on our heads? Why is every drug commercial 25% of the maybe just a little tiny bit maybe side effects you can have? To say that our litigatous society hasn’t impacted consumer cost is not correct. We can certainly argue about the degree of that cost.

Manufacturers have to put warnings on products due to FTC consumer protection regulations. Pharma ads list absurdly-long potential side effects due to FDA regulations. Neither of these have anything to do with lawsuits. Doctors in most states pay very little for malpractice insurance. Malpractice claims are severely limited, with damages capped in many/most states due in large part to the propaganda efforts of the insurance companies that lead people to believe lawsuits are driving doctors out of business, raising insurance costs and prices.

Most doctors pay tens of thousands a year in malpractice. Certain classes like OB often pay hundreds of thousands. It is absolutely a factor in the shortage of physicians in some specialties.

I'm not an expert in the commercial stuff so I'll take your word for it.

Anyways, the point I was trying to make is that humans make mistakes and suing everybody that makes a mistake, particularly if they recognize the mistake and we're not harmed, isn't helpful. That's all.

 

[SWC]

my old buddy sal worked on cars forever and that guy loved hoagies and hated spiders thats just it was but i will tell you what old sal would never had had this problem ever thats a guaranty take that to the bank brohans

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Most doctors pay tens of thousands a year in malpractice. Certain classes like OB often pay hundreds of thousands. It is absolutely a factor in the shortage of physicians in some specialties.

Medical Malpractice claims are very expensive to bring and difficult to win. Most firms won't bring "frivolous" malpractice claims because they only get paid if/when they win the case and have to come out of pocket to pay medical experts (and don't recover that money until they win). What you're saying simply is not true.

 

[Genxersrule]

Most doctors pay tens of thousands a year in malpractice. Certain classes like OB often pay hundreds of thousands. It is absolutely a factor in the shortage of physicians in some specialties.

Medical Malpractice claims are very expensive to bring and difficult to win. Most firms won't bring "frivolous" malpractice claims because they only get paid if/when they win the case and have to come out of pocket to pay medical experts (and don't recover that money until they win). What you're saying simply is not true.

Doctors don't pay tens and hundreds of thousands in malpractice every year? Malpractice cost isn't a factor in the shortage of some specialties? I admitted I wasn't an expert in the commercial stuff, that's not the case when it comes to malpractice. I am not wrong.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

particularly if they recognize the mistake and we're not harmed,

You do realize that if you're not harmed there is no case? Without damages there is no lawsuit and/or one that will easily be dismissed.

 

[Genxersrule]

particularly if they recognize the mistake and we're not harmed,

You do realize that if you're not harmed there is no case? Without damages there is no lawsuit and/or one that will easily be dismissed.

I'm going to guess you're a lawyer. I wasn't the one who brought up suing, I was commenting that he shouldn't sue.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Most doctors pay tens of thousands a year in malpractice. Certain classes like OB often pay hundreds of thousands. It is absolutely a factor in the shortage of physicians in some specialties.

Medical Malpractice claims are very expensive to bring and difficult to win. Most firms won't bring "frivolous" malpractice claims because they only get paid if/when they win the case and have to come out of pocket to pay medical experts (and don't recover that money until they win). What you're saying simply is not true.

Doctors don't pay tens and hundreds of thousands in malpractice every year? Malpractice cost isn't a factor in the shortage of some specialties? I admitted I wasn't an expert in the commercial stuff, that's not the case when it comes to malpractice. I am not wrong.

They pay high rates for malpractice insurance because when they do mess up the amount of damages could be very high its not because of frivolous lawsuits. Almost everything you said was wrong actually.

 

[Genxersrule]

Most doctors pay tens of thousands a year in malpractice. Certain classes like OB often pay hundreds of thousands. It is absolutely a factor in the shortage of physicians in some specialties.

Medical Malpractice claims are very expensive to bring and difficult to win. Most firms won't bring "frivolous" malpractice claims because they only get paid if/when they win the case and have to come out of pocket to pay medical experts (and don't recover that money until they win). What you're saying simply is not true.

Doctors don't pay tens and hundreds of thousands in malpractice every year? Malpractice cost isn't a factor in the shortage of some specialties? I admitted I wasn't an expert in the commercial stuff, that's not the case when it comes to malpractice. I am not wrong.

They pay high rates for malpractice insurance because when they do mess up the amount of damages could be very high its not because of frivolous lawsuits. Almost everything you said was wrong actually.

lol, please point out where I said frivolous in any of my statements. And all it takes is a sympathetic jury to turn a "frivolous" lawsuit into an extremely profitable one for the attorneys.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

particularly if they recognize the mistake and we're not harmed,

You do realize that if you're not harmed there is no case? Without damages there is no lawsuit and/or one that will easily be dismissed.

I'm going to guess you're a lawyer. I wasn't the one who brought up suing, I was commenting that he shouldn't sue.

You said that some one that wasn't harmed shouldn't sue - well of course not because they would have no case if they weren't harmed.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

lol, please point out where I said frivolous in any of my statements.

So you're upset when people sue on legitimate claims of negligence where they suffered actual damages?

 

[Genxersrule]

particularly if they recognize the mistake and we're not harmed,

You do realize that if you're not harmed there is no case? Without damages there is no lawsuit and/or one that will easily be dismissed.

I'm going to guess you're a lawyer. I wasn't the one who brought up suing, I was commenting that he shouldn't sue.

You said that some one that wasn't harmed shouldn't sue - well of course not because they would have no case if they weren't harmed.

Trust me my friend, I've known tons of physicians that have been sued with little or no actual harm done.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Trust me my friend, I've known tons of physicians that have been sued with little or no actual harm done.

And they likely won those cases easily then ,since damages is a requirement.

 

[Witz]

Wonder if the mechanic is going to just shrug and say “sorry - them’s the brakes”

Glad you’re ok.

 

[Dezbelief]

When my dad was a mechanic in 70s and 80s he had to provide his own tools. I'm pretty sure it's like that at most places still.

I'm sure there are exceptions

I don't know why this surprised, but it did. I guess if the dealership provides a required tool list it wouldn't really matter. But trying to standardize procedures when all of your mechanics have a differnt kit seems near impossible.

Also mechanics aren't paid by the hour. They are paid by the job/piece/repair. The dealership is charging $80+ an hour, the mechanic is actually making $40+ an hour. There's a "book time" on every repair that says how long the repair should take an experienced mechanic. That's how much time the mechanic gets paid for regardless if it takes more or less time to complete. So there's an incentive for mechanics to find faster ways to get the job done.

Also since mechanics get paid by the job they don't get paid when they are standing around on a slow day, they do not get overtime pay and most get no benefits.

 

[ChiefD]

Also mechanics aren't paid by the hour. They are paid by the job/piece/repair. The dealership is charging $80+ an hour, the mechanic is actually making $40+ an hour. There's a "book time" on every repair that says how long the repair should take an experienced mechanic. That's how much time the mechanic gets paid for regardless if it takes more or less time to complete. So there's an incentive for mechanics to find faster ways to get the job done.

My father-in-law was really good at this. He was a BMW mechanic for a long time. He was a specialist at engine replacements. I can't remember the exact times, but it was something like 12 hours to replace an engine and he could do it in 8. So on those weeks he would make bank because he would get paid the 12 and was still doing other jobs those weeks.

 

[SWC]

did your father in law like hoagies or what take that to the bank brohan

 

[Angry Beavers]

No refund on the repairs? Yes, you can not collect for what could have happened, but I would assume that they value you as a customer etc.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

No refund on the repairs? Yes, you can not collect for what could have happened, but I would assume that they value you as a customer etc.

I think he said they refunded him in full.

 

[northern exposure]

I'm beyond furious. We are just lucky it happened when it did or it could have been catastrophic. So what is the play here? This level of negligence blows my mind and I'm tempted to sue them out of business.

Not knowing the full details, my gut reaction is get your money back and get reimbursed for towing costs to a different mechanic you trust, and never step foot in that place again. You should obviously not pay anything for their work and should not be out of pocket, but I would not want them "fixing" their mistake at any cost or no cost.

This is essentially how it is playing out. I have a lot of thoughts on what went down at the dealership and things I learned about how they do business but I’m too tired to write about it tonight. I’ll expand tomorrow. The quick update is they refunded the entire bill and the service manager described in detail how the mechanic cried in his office. A first apparently.

Imo that was the minimum they should have done. I would have also expected some discount (even 100%) off of a future service visit as a goodwill gesture.
I'm not sure if you're even willing to bring your vehicle back, but the offer should have been made.

 

[SWC]

do we like not talk about hoagies in here or what way i see it if you want to be a good mechanic learn to make a mean hoag and you are like half way home take that to the bank brohans