The auto repair shop is a dangerous place.
Inspecting, repairing, and overhauling cars, light trucks, and heavy commercial vehicles poses many risks. Though computers help diagnose many automotive problems, as a mechanic, you must get into uncomfortable positions, work with dangerous materials and tools, and lift heavy objects.
This work environment and these job duties mean automotive service technicians and mechanics suffer high injury rates. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, auto service techs and mechanics suffered 9,940 injuries that resulted in days missed from work and 54 fatal work injuries in 2020.
So, if you are one of the thousands of auto mechanics who suffer work-related injuries while working for dealerships or auto repair shops, keep reading to learn more about your right to workers compensation benefits.
This article explains many issues that frequently arise in auto mechanic injury claims.
Please use this information to prepare for your evidentiary hearing or negotiate a workers comp settlement payout that lets you put the occupational injury or illness behind you and focus on the next chapter in your life.
If you have questions about workers comp after reading this article, call (804) 251-1620 or complete this form to speak with my firm.
Like most industries, automotive service technicians and mechanics may specialize.
Our law firm represents these types of mechanics in work injury claims and third-party civil actions:
Completing an auto repair requires many tasks, each of which can cause a workplace injury for a mechanic.
For example, you may suffer harm while doing the following:
In addition, you likely use these tools as a mechanic, increasing the risk of an auto repair shop injury:
And you may be exposed to these substances and situations:
If your injury arises from a specific risk of your employment as an auto mechanic or service tech, you can recover workers’ comp benefits. These potential benefits include lifetime medical treatment, wage loss payments (temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, etc.), and compensation for the injured body part’s scarring, disfigurement, or permanent impairment.
Our law firm has successfully resolved workers comp claims for mechanics with these types of injuries and occupational illnesses:
Who you work for rarely affects your right to workers comp as a mechanic.
Auto mechanics can work for many employers, including auto repair shops, auto vehicle dealerships, construction companies, utility companies, trucking companies, airlines, and municipalities.
Workers compensation insurance (or self-insurance) is mandatory for employers of a specific size. For example, employers doing business in Virginia with three or more employees regularly in service (full-time or part-time) must provide workers comp coverage.
In my experience, most mechanics work for dealerships or auto repair shops with more than three employees, so workers comp coverage is mandatory.
However, who you work for may influence whether you receive a workers comp settlement as a mechanic and, if so, how much the employer offers.
Generally, mechanics for local governments or the Commonwealth of Virginia may have more difficulty obtaining a fair settlement than those working for private employers with private insurance coverage. Government entities seem more hesitant and tighter with the checkbook than other employers regarding workers comp settlements, even though they may end up paying more over the long run when you have an award letter.
Further, many Virginia dealerships have workers comp coverage through the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association’s (VADA’s) Group Self Insurance Association for Workers Comp.
If you are a mechanic injured while working for a dealership belonging to the VADA, you will likely deal with a workers comp adjuster with PMA or an attorney with Midkiff, Muncie, & Ross (MMR). PMA is the third-party claim administrator for the VADA in Virginia, while MMR defends many VADA workers comp claims.
Our law firm has handled many mechanics’ workers comp claims involving the VADA.
Hundreds of dealerships have locations in Virginia.
These dealerships are among the largest operating in the state:
Even if you don’t see your employer on this list, we can help you with your mechanics’ workers comp claim.
Yes, so long as you meet your burden of proof for compensability, disability, and causation.
Many mechanics I have represented receive base pay plus sales commissions. The amount of commission depends on the repair provided to the customer.
You should include any commissions and overtime earnings when calculating your pre-injury average weekly wage (AWW). The AWW determines your compensation rate for indemnity payments under workers comp.
The number of cars, trucks, and vans on the road continues to grow.
And mechanics like you keep vehicles, people, and the economy moving.
If you’re an automotive service technician or mechanic injured while doing your job, my firm wants to help.
We represent auto mechanics employed by dealerships, repair shops, businesses with large fleets, and local governments throughout Virginia.
Contact us to see if we will accept representation.