Maintain Your Tires To Prevent Auto Accidents

An estimated 20 to 50 million people are injured or disabled in automobile accidents each year. Finding ways to reduce your chances of being involved in an accident is essential if you spend a significant amount of time on the road. Although many drivers think that investing in a defensive driving course or remaining more vigilant behind the wheel is enough to prevent an accident, mechanical failure can also be a major contributor to an automobile accident.

Maintaining your vehicle's tires is essential when it comes to doing your part to prevent auto accidents. Here are two things you should be doing regularly to ensure your vehicle's tires don't contribute to a serious auto accident in the future.

1. Make sure that your tires are not under-inflated before embarking on a long trip.

If you are planning to travel a great distance, you will likely be traveling down freeways at a high rate of speed. Freeway driving can take a toll on your vehicle's tires, so it's essential that you take the time to ensure your tires are not under-inflated before you begin a long trip.

Tires that don't contain enough air are more susceptible to overheating, which could cause the tire to blowout while you are driving. If other drivers and passengers are injured in an accident caused by an underinflated tire on your vehicle, you could be legally liable for the resulting damages if the court finds that you were negligent in checking your tire pressure regularly.

Vehicle tires typically require between 44 and 51 PSI for proper inflation, but checking the tire wall of your tires for inflation information will help you identify the optimal pressure level for your specific tires.

2. Make sure that your tires have enough tread to safely navigate adverse road conditions.

Just as under-inflation could leave you legally responsible for the damages associated with an auto accident, driving with bald tires could also be considered negligent by the court system.

The tread on a tire plays an important role in helping your vehicle maintain contact with wet roads by wedging the water between each tread. Without proper tread, a tire can easily hydroplane and cause you to experience an accident.

The law in most states requires that your tires have a minimum of 2/32" of tread in order to be street legal. You can use a penny to gauge your tread depth by placing the coin into the grooves between the tread. If Lincoln's head is covered, then you have more than the 2/32" required by law.

Keeping your tires properly maintained is a simple way to prevent car accidents, and the legal liability that can be associated with causing an accident. If you do have an accident, contact a lawyer like Teresa P Williams PA.