There's so much to worry about to be a safe driver. Keeping the speed limit, never driving under the influence, and keeping eyes on the road is so important, but what about not maintaining your vehicle?
Budah talked with Personal Injury Attorney Craig Swapp who says car maintenance is a serious and often overlooked issue.
Swapp says studies done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show an average of 45,000 accidents per year are caused by a vehicle malfunction, many of those because of poor maintenance on the owners part.
So what are the car maintenance issues that are the most dangerous? Swapp says the biggest culprit is worn out or improperly inflated tires. The NHTSA estimates that 35 percent of accidents caused by cars in disrepair happen due to bad tires.
Swapp offers this advice: if you've had your tires for more than five years get them checked. Know the correct PSI (find in owner's manual) and check tire pressure monthly. Every three months check the tread of your tires.
Another maintenance problem that can lead to an accident is brake trouble. The NHTSA says that brake malfunction or failure is the cause of about 10,000 accidents a year. It can happen for a number of reasons, including the wearing down of brake pads or rotors and oil.
So how do you know when it's time to get the brakes checked? Swapp says if you accelerate and feel a lot of drag, or if the brake pedal pulses when you brake or if you hear clicking, grinding or squeaking when you apply the brake, get them checked.
Also make sure your car doesn't have an open recall. Recent data suggests as many as 50 million vehicles on U.S. roads are driving around with an open recall. Swapp says look up recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
If you have been injured because of a poorly maintained vehicle, contact Craig Swapp & Associates at 1-800-404-9000 or visit: craigswapp.com.
