Application of Statute of Repose

I’m Katelyn Holub, an attorney focusing on personal injury law in northwest Indiana.

Welcome to Personal Injury Primer, where we break down the law into simple terms, provide legal tips, and discuss personal injury law topics.

Have you noticed that the cost of repairing modern cars is getting higher and higher?

While we rarely take on a case involving only property damage, where there is no injury claim resulting from a crash, we have noticed over the years that repair costs are skyrocketing.

Also, we have noted that a big factor in high vehicle repair costs is associated with the computer components of a vehicle.

There is also a trend in people keeping older vehicles longer for a variety of reasons.

Older vehicles without computers cost less to repair, license plate fees are often lower, and insurance rates are often lower.

As we mentioned in an earlier episode, Indiana is known to be a farm state.

Farmers have also found that keeping and repairing older equipment can be a way to save money.

For example, when a brand-new tractor breaks down, you need a computer to fix it.

When a tractor manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s breaks down, you can repair it yourself or buy another old tractor.

New farming equipment, containing computers, often comes with digital rights management software. This makes simple repairs very expensive.

Instead of farmers being able to fix equipment on their own, they now have to pay to plug a computer into the onboard computer of the newest machinery and then pay a big diagnostic fee.

Keep in mind that older farm tractors manufactured in the late 1970s and 1980s look and run like modern tractors. They lack the computer components, however, which keeps repair costs low.

But, as we have discussed in another episode if someone is injured as a result of a defect in an older vehicle, whether it be a farm tractor or automobile, Indiana has a 10-year statute of repose.

This means, that if the manufacturer sold the product more than 10 years before a defect or failure to warn led to an injury, it may be too late to sue the manufacturer.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you are a victim of someone’s carelessness, substandard medical care, product defect, work injury, or another personal injury, please call (219) 736-9700 with your questions. You can also learn more about us by visiting our website at DavidHolubLaw.com – While there, make sure you request a copy of our book “Fighting for Truth.”