Poor Car Maintenance Can Lead To More Than Being Stranded
Keeping up with the maintenance is one of the most important aspects of owning a vehicle. Of course, this is because no one wants to become stranded on the side of the road. However, poor car maintenance can cause many other issues. Perhaps most notably, you could be found responsible for any car accidents that may happen while your car is below standard in significant areas.
Poor car maintenance can cause car accidents
Unfortunately, there are several ways that not keeping up with your car maintenance can leave you at fault for a car accident. In particular, ensuring that your vehicle is up to date in every way possible can help ensure that significant car parts don’t fail while you’re on the road. Of course, things can still go wrong, but this at least puts the odds in your favor for safe traveling.
This is especially true when it comes to your tires. According to Nerd Wallet, you should change your tires every six years or between 36,000 to 75,000 miles. Of course, this figure varies based on factors such as climate and the quality of roads and highways. Failing to maintain your tires could easily cause a car accident, as bad ones have much less tread, which means less traction.
Not changing your brakes is another way that you could be responsible for a car accident due to poor car maintenance. Of course, this one is obvious, but the brakes wear down over time, which makes it becomes harder to stop. In fact, brake pads can become so worn down that they fall out, which means you can’t stop when driving.
Typically, it’s best to replace your brake pads every 10,000 to 20,000 miles. Cars need new rotors every 50,000 to 70,000 miles. Like tires, brakes are among the most important parts of car maintenance.
What happens if you’re at fault in an accident
Being at fault in a car accident can be a significant burden. This is the case regardless of if it’s due to poor car maintenance. However, if this does happen, there are certain things you should know. First, your car insurance will cover the cost of the damages. However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences, as your insurance premium could increase significantly.
Drivers should also note that they could be liable for other expenses besides repairs or medical costs. For example, if the other driver can’t work for a while, they could legally request compensation due to loss of wages. The same is true for pain and suffering.
Overall, car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Because of this, it’s best to take as many precautions as possible, and proper car maintenance is one of them. Not doing so can not only harm other drivers, but it can be costly.
