Poor Car Maintenance Increases Car Accidents

Don’t take car maintenance lightly. They increase your risk of getting into accident.

You are standing on the corner when you hear a loud noise. A small car is driving down the street, and it sounds like there is somebody under the hood screaming as it goes along. This is more than just annoying because the car may have a loose serpentine belt. 

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A serpentine belt holds many important parts of a car in place. When it is loose, it can cause a major accident. Good maintenance does not only make your car look good and run well; it can also prevent an accident. An auto accident attorney can tell you that a few mechanical problems are particularly dangerous, not just inconvenient. If you look out for them, you can avoid disaster.

Broken Lights 

Although it may seem like a small problem, broken lights are actually a very dangerous problem for drivers. You need your headlights to let other drivers know that you are coming. You need your turn signals to let other drivers know when you change lanes or turn a corner. Your taillights let other drivers know when you are stopping your car. If you are zooming down the expressway, you may find it very difficult to see what is ahead of you without any lights. 

Broken lights can cause turning accidents and rear-end accidents. It is necessary to get a broken light fixed right away. 

Poor Steering

If your car’s steering mechanism is in bad shape, you will not be able to stay in your lane or execute turns properly. You will not be able to parallel park either.

You may not notice that there is something wrong with your steering system right away. If you feel a vibration whenever you accelerate, it is a sign that there is something wrong with your steering. In some cases, you may feel a lot of resistance while turning, and in other cases, the steering may feel loose.

Rust 

A rusted-out car is a lot more than just an eyesore. It can cause the various parts of your car to fall apart. The worst part is, that you may not be aware of a part that is rusting inside of your car. If an important part of your car starts to rust, it may lose its structure and not be able to perform properly. 

Leaking Fuel 

Obviously, a fuel leak in a car is very dangerous. Your engine can catch on fire and destroy your car. You will normally be able to see fuel coming out of your car if you have a leak. However, sometimes a leak may be very subtle. 

If you find yourself getting headaches when you drive or feel dizzy, you may have a small gas leak in your car that needs to be fixed. 

The Timing Belt is Broken

A timing belt is essential to the combustion mechanisms in a gas engine. There are intake valves in the cylinders that enable fuel and air to get into the combustion chamber of an engine. When those valves close, it compresses the fuel and air. A spark plug causes the mixture to combust, which pushes the piston down. 

When the exhaust valve opens, the gas and water mixture is forced from the cylinder, and the piston case rises up. Camshafts open and close the exhaust. There is a crankshaft that turns the pistons, and a timing belt ensures that the camshaft and the crankshaft are synchronized. 

If the timing belt is loose or broken, your engine will take more energy to run. It will eventually stop working altogether. In some modern cars, the engine may continue to run, but serious damage will be caused to all of your other engine parts. 

There are very few signs of a broken timing belt. You may hear a light ticking, but there may also be no sign at all. This is why it is very important to get regular tune-ups for your car. 

Bad Brakes

Faulty brakes can be very dangerous when you are driving. If your brakes are not working properly, you may not be able to stop in time when you reach an intersection. You will not be able to stop quickly should someone cut you off or if a person or animal runs into the street.

When someone changes lanes in front of you, you may not be able to slow your car down enough to allow them to get in front of you. 

If there is a problem with your brakes, you may feel vibrating when you depress the pedal. The brakes may feel sluggish, or you may feel a jolt when you depress the brake pedal. In any case, it is very important to get them fixed right away.

How Mechanical Problems Can Affect an Insurance Claim

If you are injured in a car accident, you will want to file an insurance claim to help pay your medical bills. Unfortunately, if your car was not in good shape at the time of the accident, an insurance company may blame the accident on your car and refuse to pay your claim. 

In the majority of states in America, the person who caused an accident is responsible for its associated bills. You may end up being blamed for an accident if your car is in poor condition. Not only can this mean your insurance premiums will go up, but you can also get a ticket for having an unsafe car. 

Although auto repairs can be expensive, an accident can cost you your life or thousands of dollars a day in medical expenses. If you take good care of your car, you will have less chance of an accident and you will keep yourself and other drivers on the road safe.