Car Maintenance Tips to Help Avoid an Accident

There are many things you can do to help lower your risk of a car accident when you are out on the road. There are also things you can do before you hit the road to lower your risk of a crash, including performing regular maintenance on your vehicle.

If you were injured in a car accident that you think was due to poor vehicle maintenance, contact an experienced Milwaukee car accident lawyer at PKSD. Our lawyers are well-versed in Wisconsin law regarding automotive accidents and negligence. Call to schedule a free consultation with a skilled attorney today.

How to Maintain Your Vehicle

There are several things that you can do to ensure that your vehicle is safe on the road, including the following:

Check Your Tires

Most tires are designed to last about 60,000 miles. Tires may start to bald over time and lose the ability to properly grip the road.

If your tires treads fall below a certain threshold, they can become dangerous to drive on. Balding tires can make it take longer to stop after applying the brakes. You are also more likely to hydroplane if rain, ice, snow or other liquids are on the roadway. You can test the depth of your tire tread by placing a penny in the deepest tread of the tire. If you can see Abraham Lincoln’s entire head, it is time to replace the tires.

It is also important to check the inflation in your tires. Underinflated tires can wear faster and possibly cause a dangerous blowout on the road. Your tire wall will show your recommended PSI amount. Check the pressure often and keep it at this level as often as possible.

Rotate your tires about every 5,000 miles so that your tires will wear in the same pattern. Do occasional physical inspections of your tires and look for any nails, holes, uneven wear, cracks in the side wall, slits or other damage to your tires that could cause a blowout.

Check Coolant Levels

Coolant prevents the engine from overheating. If you do not put adequate amounts of antifreeze into your vehicle’s engine, your vehicle may encounter problems when the weather gets colder. It can even cause a fire. It can also negatively impact your heater and defroster.

Additionally, check fluid levels in the following components of your vehicle:

• Oil
• Transmission fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Battery fluid
• Windshield wiper fluid

Check Your Lights

Your headlights, taillights and turn signal lights keep you safe. They let others know that you are on the road and indicate your intentions. If your light bulb or other component malfunctions, your vehicle may not be visible to others at night or in inclement weather.

Dim headlights or taillights can make it so that other motorists on the roadways are unable to see you. Likewise, if your brake light goes out, the person behind you might not realize you are braking and may rear-end you. If lights are uneven, you may cause a dangerous glare for motorists who are driving in the opposite direction as you.

Try to test your lights once a week and make sure they are all working. You might need a friend or family member to stand behind the vehicle as you apply the brake to see if the brakes are working.

Clean Your Windows

Increase visibility by keeping your windows clean at all time. Ensure that you maintain high levels of windshield wiper fluid. Clean off dead bugs, debris and residue when you stop for gas. Check your wipers occasionally and replace them as needed.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by poor vehicle maintenance or other negligent behavior, contact an experienced Milwaukee personal injury lawyer from PKSD for assistance. We can discuss your legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation. Our personal injury attorneys charge no upfront fees and work on a contingency fee, so you only owe us for our legal services if we successfully help you recover compensation.

Call us at  414-333-3333 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form.