Global car accidents statistics are believed to show that many collisions are a result of unavoidable circumstances or due to negligence on the road. Some incidents could be caused by distracted driving like using your phone, driving under the influence of alcohol, and distraction by wild animals crossing the road among others. Additionally, an accident may be caused by mechanical failures.
Some mechanical failures may be caused by defects in the manufacturing or design of a mechanical part. Regardless of the main reason behind an accident you recently got involved in, if it has a good ground for you to file a claim, you can hire a personal injury lawyer and seek victim compensation from your insurance company. However, you need to do prior research before hiring a lawyer to ensure that you’re hiring the right kind of lawyer.
But why let it happen if you can prevent it in the first place? So today, in this article, you’ll learn some common mechanical failures that can cause car accidents. Here you go –
1. Tire and Wheel failures
Tire failure is said to be one of the leading causes of many accidents on the road. There are two types of tire problems:
a) Tire Bursts
Your car can have a tire burst when it gets worn out due to over-inflating or under-inflating. Overinflating exerts a lot of pressure on the tire resulting in it bursting. Additionally, your tire may unintentionally explode due to sharp materials like debris on the road or severe temperature changes. It’s difficult to control and maneuver a car after a tire burst which may result in an accident.
b) Worn Tires
Tires that have been used for a long time will eventually lose their thread and become thin. Such tires are prone to slipping. They also may fail to stop the vehicle from running after the application of brakes because of a poor grip on the road surface. It’s easy for your car to lose traction and slide on a wet road because of rain or snow with old and worn-out tires.
To keep your car in good condition, you need to replace the tires the moment you notice problems. Also, align your tires properly as non-aligned tires can cause faster deterioration from everyday wear and tear.
2. Faulty Headlights and Tail Lights
Good visibility is important especially at night, during storms, and when there’s fog in the surroundings. These weather conditions can possibly distract your vision on the road, making it hard to see autonomous cars from oncoming traffic or behind you. Thus, you need to have your headlights and taillights working optimally to better your vision at night or help other vehicles spot you during inclement weather.
Moreover, you can use your lights during the day to show signals to other road users. You should signal when you’re changing lines or when you need to turn or slow down. Faulty indicator lights may easily cause an accident when you decide to take a driver’s action on the road without communicating with other drivers properly.
3. Engine Failure
Normally, most engines are said to be made with high levels of efficiency to ensure that chances of failure are as low as possible. When an engine failure takes place, it can leave you stranded in the middle of the road or cause an accident.
Vigilance is said to be the key to prevent engine failures from happening. It’s advised that you keep an eye on the temperature gauge of your car. When it’s moving toward the red sign, it’s an indication that something might be wrong with the engine’s cooling system. An ineffective cooling system can easily lead to engine failure.
Furthermore, ensure that the engine oil is well maintained to avoid potential engine failure and the need for expensive repairs. Enough oil helps in the performance efficiency of the engine parts, reducing friction and overheating. Your engine’s oil should also be replaced on schedule for your engine to be properly lubricated.
Always check whether there is enough oil or an oil leak since both may lead to low oil pressure and damage to the engine. The way to avoid possible mechanical failure of your engine as a result of oil leaks and old oil is to conduct regular engine maintenance.
4. Wishy-washy Windshield Wipers
When it’s raining and foggy, it can be difficult to see well while driving. Your windshield becomes cloudy due to the mist and moisture, impairing your vision. Thus, you’ll need to use your car’s windshield wipers to clean the rainwater and other debris from your windshield and improve your visibility.
Worn-out blades for your wipers aren’t effective in clearing debris and rainwater. They usually cause streaks that continue to impair the driver’s sight. In the event the automobile wipers fail, it can easily cause an accident especially if your car is moving at a very high speed. The sudden failure may cause distraction in your vision making it difficult to drive and control the car.
It’s generally recommended to service your windshield blades every month and replace them if they aren’t working well to avoid malfunctioning while driving.
Summarizing things, car mechanical failures of engines, tires or windshield blades among a variety of models are said to be common. In many cases, they’re usually attributed to several car accidents. It’s possible to lower the chances of mechanical failure while on the road by regularly doing entire car maintenance rather than on certain parts of the car only. Here is an article I wrote a while ago on DIY car maintenance tips that will save you a fortune.
And never forget, “Prevention is better than cure!” 🙂