Every year roughly 37,000 people die and 2.3 million more are injured in car accidents around the U.S., causing $230.6 billion in damages. While most of these accidents can be blamed on reckless driving practices, including texting while driving and speeding, a significant number are caused by improper vehicle maintenance. Keeping your car safe for you and your loved ones depends not only on how you drive, but how well you maintain your vehicle. Here are some important car maintenance tasks you should always stay on top of in order to avoid serious accidents on the road.
Important Car Maintenance to Prevent Accidents
It may be tempting to shirk car maintenance tasks for many different reasons, but ultimately doing so not only puts you at risk, but also endangers other Kansas City drivers. Here are the essential car maintenance tasks you need to keep up with in order to keep your vehicle safe.
- Maintain Brakes – Brakes are crucial to overall vehicle safety. This is especially true during inclement weather when wet, icy, or snowy roads make driving difficult. Regularly have your brakes checked and make sure to have worn brake pads or damaged rotors replaced.
- Replace Worn Tires – Tires could be considered your first line of defense against accidents. Essential tire maintenance tasks making sure there is adequate pressure and tire tread. You should also check your tires for any uneven wear, cracks or damage in the sidewall, and any other issues that may require alignment, rotation, or replacement of tires.
- Keep Lights In Good Condition – Worn out headlights and taillights can lead to a number of accidents. When headlights go out, drivers lose a tremendous amount of visibility, while lack of taillights prevents other drivers from seeing you.
- Regularly Check Fluids – Replacing fluids regularly is vital to many parts of the vehicle, including the engine. Without oil, transmission, power steering, wiper, and brake fluids, your car won’t last long.
- Regularly Check Your Engine – If your engine isn’t functioning properly, you could have a big accident. Have the engine parts, hoses, belts, and the battery inspected for any loose components, damage, and debris.
Especially in places like Kansas City, where bad weather takes a toll on vehicles, staying up to date with vehicle maintenance will not only help you save money in the long run, it can also help save lives.
Help With Your Accident Claim
Every driver using the roads in Kansas City and Missouri has a duty to maintain their vehicle in safe working condition. Not doing so constitutes negligence, and you would be considered at-fault if an accident occurred. Unfortunately, it is not always apparent when another driver is being negligent about car maintenance. To find out more about how vehicle maintenance could affect your car accident claim contact the Krause & Kinsman Law Firm. Our skilled car accident attorneys in Kansas City have extensive experience with car accident law in Kansas City and can help you get the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation regarding your case, call today.
