Ruined rear differential…how do I prevent this from happening again?

I know it doesn’t help now… but I would have had the car inspected by my mechanic BEFORE buying it. It sounds like this was a pre-existing problem that may have changed your mind on buying the car.

Be that as it may… I’d take the car to another mechanic and have it fixed. Let Mechanic #2 diagnose it, and also order the parts to fix it.

Good luck.