So I bought a new car 3 months ago. It had been MOT’d the week before and had all new brakes fitted pads and discs and some other bits done.
A few weeks ago someone pulled out on me and I had to slam on, my brakes didn’t work as they should but they still stopped me just in time. They seemed to grab on then let go again if that makes sense. I meant to take it to be looked at but a close family member passed away and with helping funeral arranging I totally forgot about it. Plus I hadn’t been using the car, I’d been using my husbands. (I know. Stupid of me. But to be honest with the brakes just being done and supposedly had the 148 point check I figured it was something to do with me!) Anyway last week my daughter had a severe asthma attack and was rushed to hospital, the day she came home I had to go back to the hospital in the evening to get her meds. In the hospital car park my brakes totally failed and I had a 10mph crash with another car. Everyone was fine! The other car had minor damage. Although of course I only got a scraped bumper I refused to drive it again and had a garage tow it for me. Turns out the brakes and disc are knackered and overheating, there’s also something wrong with the steering system which could cause the steering to seize up. The garage where amazed it had passed an mot and said it’s a total death trap and has been for a while, that these issues were not new! I called the garage where I bought the car from, who straight away accepted liability and are taking the car back to repair it all.
Could I claim compensation for being sold a faulty car which caused an accident? My kids are traumatised especially my son with autism, who now won’t get in a car! Also I’ve had to claim on the insurance for the other car so that’s going to put my premiums up! I’ve contacted CAB who have reported to trading standards. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!!