Vehicle maintenance is essential to road safety. Besides defensive driving, one of the best ways to avoid a car accident is to carry out regular maintenance that will prevent a breakdown, malfunction, or catastrophic system failure of your vehicle.
While you might be on top of your car repairs and maintenance, it’s impossible to have control over how another driver maintains their vehicle, as well as how safely they drive. Read on to learn how lack of maintenance on a vehicle can impact safety on the road.
Injured in an accident caused by poor vehicle maintenance? Call (213) 232-4848 or Contact Us Online!
Vehicle Maintenance Problems That Can Cause Accidents
- Windshield: A cracked or damaged windshield can impair visibility and increase the risk of accidents. It’s important to have any chips or cracks repaired as soon as possible.
- Mirrors: Damaged or misaligned mirrors can also impair visibility and make it harder to see other vehicles and obstacles on the road.
- Oil: Regularly changing your oil is important to keep your engine running smoothly and to avoid costly repairs. Neglecting to change your oil can lead to engine damage and increase the risk of breakdowns.
- Belts, hoses, regular tune-ups: Regular tune-ups and replacement of worn belts and hoses can help prevent engine damage and breakdowns.
- Emission-control systems: Properly maintaining emission-control systems is important for both the environment and the performance of your vehicle.
- Ignition systems: Regular maintenance of ignition systems can help prevent problems like misfires and hard starting. Neglecting ignition system maintenance can lead to reduced engine performance and increased risk of breakdowns.
Brake Maintenance to Avoid Brake Failure
Brakes are essential to safety for the obvious reason — to stop. Lack of maintenance could increase the chances of failure and cause a serious car accident. Here are common reasons for brake failure:
- Moisture in brakes
- Defective brake hose
- Rust and corrosion
- Overheating of brake pads
- Leaking or low brake fluid
- Manufacturer defects/faulty parts
Replacing Headlights to Improve Visibility
Many drivers may not think to check vehicle lights to ensure they are working properly before taking to the road at night. Should headlights malfunction while driving or brake lights aren’t working, it could put others in serious danger on the road. Dirty headlights are also a problem, as it limits visibility. While you want to avoid an accident at all costs, driving in the dark can compound dangers on the road, so take extra precaution and always drive defensively.
Tire Maintenance for Better Control
A sudden blowout on the road can cause a driver to lose control of their car. The worst time for it to happen is on a crowded freeway with other cars traveling at high speeds. Such an incident can lead to the kind of accident that can cause a great many injuries. Some common reason for tire blowouts are:
- Improper air pressure
- Overloading a vehicle
- Hitting a pothole
- Running over glass, nails or other objects that could cause a puncture
When driving at high speeds, it’s important to be aware of other drivers and stay at least a car’s length away from the vehicle in front of you and never tailgate.
Were Your Injuries Caused by Poor Maintenance? Talk to an Attorney.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and have sustained an injury, your insurance company may not offer you the proper compensation that you deserve. Retaining a personal injury attorney who understands your rights under the law and knows how to deal with insurance companies is your best bet at getting a favorable settlement.
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