Imagine taking the same turns you always take coming home. The traffic slows and you apply the brakes. Your car does not respond as it should. You rear-end the car in front of you.
Your brake pads were worn out, as it turns out. There are injuries arising from the collision. You now have to deal with a potential lawsuit instead of just an auto repair.
So, if you find yourself in this awful position, it really is important to get legal help after a car crash. None of this would have happened if something as simple as a regular maintenance check would have been performed.
Most drivers are aware maintenance can make their car last longer. Many people are not even aware that they maintain their properties properly, can keep them out of legal trouble.
Broken bulbs, worn tires, and broken brakes aren’t just broken mechanical parts. They are legal pitfalls if involved in an accident that you are found liable for.
So how can we reduce our risk? An easy place to start is with some simple routines and follow these five car care maintenance practices to help keep you from legal trouble and the roads.
1. Keep Your Brakes in Top Shape
Brakes are one of the most important safety features on any vehicle, and they are among the most commonly ignored. Many drivers never consider their brakes until they begin to make noise – but by then, it may be too late.
Worn brake pads, low brake fluid, or even badly outdated brake line could increase your stopping distance. Sometimes, when you are at your most vulnerable, you may realize your brakes are not working at all.
If a broken brake investigation shows that you failed to pay attention to warning indicators and you hit another vehicle because your brakes did not respond, you can be found legally responsible for a work-related accident.
What to pay attention to:
- When you brake, listen for any unusual noises like a squeal or grinding, act accordingly.
- If your brake pedal feels too soft, or if your vehicle pulls to one side, get it checked.
- Have your entire system checked at regular service intervals and your brake fluid topped off.
Your brakes can be made reliable, and your chances for an expensive accident and a date in court reduced with a quick inspection every few months.
2. Replace Worn-Out Tires.
Your tires are the only thing between your vehicle and the road. Worn tires handle poorly in wet conditions, have less grip, and increase your stopping distance.
Missing a large pothole or rain slick highway-changing from one lane to another could result in a complete loss of control if you are using road tires that are bald or nearly worn out.
From a legal perspective, driving with bald or damages tires could be considered negligent. Even if you were not the direct responsible party for the accident, if the discovering agency determines that your tires were worn out at the time of the incident, you may still be held liable.
What to do:
- Check the tread on your tires at least once a month; use the penny checking method; Lincoln’s head down, insert the penny on the tread; if you are able to see, the top of his head then the tread is too low.
- Check the sidewalls for bulges, cracks and uneven wear.
- be sure to rotate your tires frequently and change your tires as necessary.
In addition to providing safety, maintaining your tires will give you one less thing to defend against if legal issues arise.
3. Fix Broken Lights and Turn Signals
A headlight or taillight going out might not seem like a huge deal. However, those lights are essential for interacting with other motorists.
Slowing down is indicated by brake lights. Turn signals inform people of your destination. Without them, it’s hard to know what you’re trying to do, and that uncertainty can cause a collision.
Driving with damaged exterior lights is actually against the law in many states. You might be held accountable if someone strikes you while you’re changing lanes and your turn signal isn’t working.
Even worse, that little lightbulb could become a major legal problem if someone is hurt and it turns out that your lights were off.
How to proceed:
- Once a month, check all of the bulbs in your car by walking around it with the lights on.
- Remember to use your license plate lights, high beams, and reverse lights.
- Change the bulbs as soon as possible. If you can, keep a few spares in your glove box.
This type of upkeep is easy and affordable. Ignoring it, however, can have dire repercussions, particularly in court.
4. Stay on Top of Fluid Leaks.
Coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and oil are all necessary for your car to function. Your car may overheat, stop shifting correctly, or lose braking power if any of these begin to leak. Some leaks even endanger lives or harm the environment.
Imagine now that a leak results in a malfunction that leads to an accident. Even worse, someone trips and falls in a parking lot due to a fluid leak. You could find yourself in a dangerous legal situation if it can be demonstrated that you were aware of the leak and chose not to fix it.
How to proceed:
- Regularly check underneath your vehicle for fresh stains or puddles.
- Get your car checked out if you detect smoke, a burning smell, or strange performance problems.
- Ask your mechanic to check for leaks and schedule routine oil changes.
Ignoring a minor leak could eventually result in a large repair bill or even a lawsuit. Early detection protects your wallet and keeps you safer.
5. Get Regular Inspections and Keep Records.
Maintenance is key to car longevity. You’re going to occasionally overlook things even with diligent care. That’s where having a routine check-up is your first level of defense against unknown issues.
And if the time comes where your maintenance skills are in question, having a record of your follow-up service documentation can help prove you were taking care of your car so you are not held legally responsible.
Think of being sued after an event. You show up with maintenance records that show you followed the trajectory of your tire rotation, brake inspected, and fluids topped. This documentation can potentially show you acted responsibly and took care of your car. It’s still doesn’t grant you legal amnesty.
Where to start:
- Fully follow the maintenance schedule in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
- Keep all your service records, inspection reports, receipts all in one spot.
- If you sell your car and you hand-on this documentation to the next owner, you build trust and provide accountability.
Keeping organized records may seem unnecessary; however, in court, a series of maintained records could make the difference between a finding of guilty or not.
Final Thoughts
When driving, nobody wants to consider getting into legal trouble. However, accidents do occur. When they do, the condition of your car will be examined.
Simple features like functional lights, good tires, and working brakes can make the difference between a minor collision and a serious lawsuit. And if you’re already involved in a wreck, having proper documentation and maintenance history can help you file your car accident claim more smoothly.
These five maintenance practices are simple. They don’t call for costly equipment or in-depth mechanical knowledge. However, they do call for awareness and consistency.
Begin modestly. Check your lights today, perhaps. Next week, schedule a tire rotation. Reviewing your service records every few months should become a habit. Every action you take increases the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers.
Maintaining the smooth operation of your vehicle is not enough. It’s about keeping yourself safe and out of trouble.