Maintaining a vehicle is rarely at the top of drivers priority lists. But a few minutes of maintenance can save you money in the long run and help keep you safe. Extreme weather (including cold and heat) impacts and can potentially damage a vehicle. Its important to keep an eye on several aspects of your vehicle throughout the year to avoid accidents.
Tires: Tread & Pressure
Tires last approximately 60,000 miles (or 6-10 years). Wear and tear or damage to tires can cause a fatal accident the NHTSA estimates that failure in tires causes around 11,000 accidents a year. Tires with low tire tread the rubber grooves on the tire that make contact with the road aren’t able to grip the road as well as they should. Traction is affected and a blow out can occur. Check tire tread by placing a penny with Lincolns face upside down in the deepest tread. If you can see Lincolns entire head, the tire tread is too low.
Low tire pressure can cause blowouts as well. Low tire pressure causes slow acceleration and decreased fuel efficiency. Add air to your tires to the recommended PSI on the tire wall. If tires are frequently losing air, you may have a leak or need to replace the tire due to age.
Coolant
Coolant is used year round (not just in the summer!) to keep the engine from overheating. Low coolant can cause your vehicle to overheat. In addition to checking coolant levels, check windshield wiper fluid, oil, power steering, and battery fluid. In older vehicles it is particularly important to let your vehicle idle before putting it into drive to allow it to warm up before driving.
Working Lights
Hazards, blinkers, and brake lights are especially important for your and other vehicles safety. Other vehicles need to know when you’re turning, braking, or stopped somewhere in the road or off to the side.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform maintenance checks on your vehicle, schedule an appointment with an auto shop or dealer. Safe vehicles can mean safe drivers. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car crash due to poor vehicle maintenance or driver negligence, contact a Fort Worth auto accident lawyer to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal rights. At Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, our personal injury attorneys charge no upfront fees if we take on your case.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form or call (817) 920-9000.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Seth Anderson, whose team has more than 50 years of combined legal experience in helping victims of personal injury seek justice.
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