Car crashes happen so fast, sometimes in the blink of an eye. You see the brake lights in front of you, so slam your foot on the brakes. Your brakes squeal, and your body jolts forward as your car slams into the vehicle in front of you.
A car crash in South Florida can result in injuries, financial hardships, and emotional turmoil. Could you have avoided this situation? Not always, but some car crashes in South Florida can often be prevented.
In the United States, there are an average of six million car accidents every year, with close to 100 people dying on average daily and countless others injured.
Every time we get behind the wheel of a vehicle, we are responsible for protecting ourselves, our passengers, and other drivers by reducing or even preventing car accidents. Before you even get on the road, you can think about avoiding car accidents.
Every day, car accidents happen across the country. Several accidents result from reckless or distracted driving, including speeding and texting while driving, but a lack of vehicle maintenance may also cause an accident. By proactively maintaining your car, you may be able to avoid an accident. In addition to preventing collisions, regular maintenance will also help you avoid costly issues, such as electrical problems, tire blowouts, engine failure, and faulty brakes.
Car maintenance is very important for any driver who wants to stay safe and keep their passengers safe, even though a lack of care isn’t one of the top causes of accidents and injuries.
Whether you are cruising along the highway or you’re on inner-city roadways, here are several car care tips to help reduce the risk of an accident:
1. Keep Your Headlights Clean
As long as your vehicle’s headlights turn on when you use them, most vehicle owners assume the lights are in good working order, but regular maintenance can improve your headlights’ performance. It may be a good idea to clean your headlights if you’ve never done so before.
Examine the plastic covering on your headlights. Does the plastic look clear, or is it dingy or yellowing? Your headlights are often protected with protective films applied by many car manufacturers. A yellow or hazy appearance on the lenses can be caused by UV damage to this film. While driving at night, you may have difficulty seeing due to the cloudy appearance.
What can you do if the plastic coverings on your headlights are no longer clear? The surfaces of your headlights can be sanded and waxed with a headlight restoration kit. Make sure you clean your vehicle’s headlights according to the instructions.
Using another kit or purchasing replacement headlights may be in order if you don’t notice a significant improvement after you’ve cleaned your headlights.
2. Change Your Wiper Blades Often
The ability to see is essential for safe driving. The natural wear and tear of wiper blades will become one of the most common car problems over time. Regularly check your wiper blades for tears, cracks, stiffness, and other signs of wear. You may want to consider replacing any of these to improve your vehicle’s visibility.
Regularly checking your wiper fluid is also a good idea. Keeping your windshield fluid topped up will help you keep bugs off your windshield and prevent streaks. When driving, the last thing you want is to end up with a dirty windshield without a way to clean it off. Keep your wiper blades and wiper fluid in good condition to prevent crashes caused by low visibility.
3. Check Your Tires Regularly
The tires on your vehicle play an important role in vehicle safety, especially during dangerous weather conditions. After all, this is where the rubber meets the road. When it rains, roads can be slippery, but good tires can keep you safe. For this reason, it is essential to check your tires regularly.
You may need to rotate, replace, or align your tires if you find cracks in the sidewalls, uneven wear, or other problems. It may be necessary to replace your tires if the tread is significantly worn or irregular.
You should also frequently check your tire pressure. Tires tend to lose air when the temperature goes up and down. In addition to keeping you and your loved ones safe, a properly inflated tire may also improve your gas mileage. Make sure your tires are inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to avoid accidents.
4. Make Sure Your Brakes Are Working
Brakes are an essential part of your vehicle’s safety, just like tires. Both components are especially important in rainy weather conditions. If your brake pads are worn, this can damage your rotors, causing costly repairs. In addition to worn brake pads, fluid leaks and other issues can cause brake failure and severe accidents.
Make sure to check your brakes frequently, especially if you do not drive your car every day. In addition to rust buildup, letting your car sit for long periods can reduce its brake performance. It is best to have your brakes checked by a professional who can check for worn brake pads and replace damaged rotors if necessary.
5. Check Your Battery
Generally, the more sophisticated your car’s onboard computers are, the more strain it puts on its battery. Today’s cars have powerful onboard computers that are constantly in use. When you drive your car, a bad battery can leave you stranded, and a faulty electrical system could cause the vehicle to stall or operate incorrectly, resulting in an unnecessary collision or worse. Even if you don’t use your automobile often, it may still drain the battery.
A mechanic should inspect the battery cables for cracks, breaks, and any loose connections on the battery terminals. The battery fluid can be checked by uncovering the fill hole. Refill the bottle with distilled water if the level is below the bottom of the cap. Look for the date of manufacture on your battery when you are inspecting it. By determining the age of the battery, you will be able to tell when it will lose charge. The battery may need to be replaced if it has been more than four years.
6. Maintain Your Working Lights
Lights, including your taillights, headlights, and turn signals, are another aspect of your car that is essential for avoiding accidents. Regular vehicle maintenance can prevent malfunctioning brake lights, burned-out bulbs, and misaligned headlights. When you are driving at night or in adverse weather conditions, your lights are especially vital.
Turn your lights on and walk around the car to test your lights. Additionally, you might want to have a relative or friend check your lights while you test them from the driver’s seat. You should check and note any problems with your headlamps, taillights, and turn signals.
7. Check Your Fluids Regularly
Lastly, make sure you regularly check the fluids in your vehicle, including power steering, transmission, oil, and brake fluids. If you plan to refill these levels yourself, make sure the container is unopened and clean. Low or dirty oil and transmission fluid levels can affect how well your vehicle performs.
You can do these tasks, or you can have them done by a trusted mechanic.
Contact the Bodden & Bennett Law Group online or by calling (561) 806-5229 if you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a car crash in South Florida.
