Cars are lethal weapons, so it is essential to practice safety on the road. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, the first step is making sure you properly maintain your automobile mechanics.
Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have truly seen it all. This guide will help you understand the ins and outs of technology when enhancing car safety. These safety features can be as basic as driver awareness and routine maintenance, or as complex as mechanical feature malfunctions. Understanding all these features will allow for a much safer driving experience.
Perform Proper Maintenance
Ensuring proper maintenance of your vehicle is an important way to ensure road safety. You should routinely check maintenance features like brake inspections, oil changes, fluid top-ups, and tire rotations. The proper functioning of all these features will prevent surprise malfunctions while you are on the road.
Malfunctioning brakes in particular are very dangerous and a major cause of collisions. While these may be examples of a manufacturer’s product liability, drivers should regularly monitor their own brakes. Being proactive can prevent any accidents from occurring.
Being aware of warning lights or maintenance warnings that your car suggests can also prevent major safety malfunctions from occurring. If you are regularly on the road, it is your responsibility to make sure your car is always functioning properly.
Check Lights and Turn Signals Regularly
Lights and turn signals are essential factors in communicating with other drivers and staying visible when on the road. These functions should always be properly working to ensure car safety.
Broken turn signals can cause accidents when changing lanes. Broken lights can make you less visible to other drivers, which can lead to accidents at night or in bad weather.
It is essential that all tail lights, brake lights, headlights, and turn signals are always working while on the road. You should replace any lights that no longer work. Ensuring that your headlights are functioning will prevent many accidents and provide full visibility for you and the drivers around you.
You should not drive a car that has any malfunctions, and when any are identified, you should bring it to a maintenance shop immediately.
Things to Have On Hand
It is always helpful to have some emergency items stored in your car for safety purposes. Some of these include:
- Spare tires in case of a flat
- Jumper cables for dead batteries
- Emergency kit with items like batteries, a first aid kit, and a flashlight
- Reflective flares to provide visibility in case of a breakdown at night
- Blanket in case of an emergency in the cold
- Small fire extinguisher
- Tire pressure gauge
- Cell phone charger
- Mini toolkit
Being prepared can save the lives of yourself and others.
Install a Dash Camera
Installing a dash camera can be imperative to road safety and potential lawsuits. Dash cameras record your driving and you can use them as evidence during a prosecution. Some ways dash cameras are beneficial include:
- Accident documentation in proving someone else’s negligence
- Evidence for insurance companies
- Prevent fraud or framed accidents
- Monitor driver behavior – mostly for newer drivers or those with previous driving issues
- Parking security – records vandalism or hit-and-runs
Dash cameras are great for collecting evidence when relating to driving laws. This can not only ensure driving safety but also create protection and accountability on the road. Our personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles can help you understand the impact of factual evidence in a personal injury claim.
Car Accident/Product Liability Lawsuits
By filing within the statute of limitations, a victim or surviving spouse/family member can hold negligent parties responsible under California law. The statute of limitations is typically two years from the date of the injury, or, in some cases, a specified amount of time from when injuries are first noticed.
A lawsuit can recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. The death of a loved one can also come with loss of companionship, which is another compensation available to plaintiffs.
It is best to reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles to discuss your specific case. Surviving loved ones should also consider consulting a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney to hear more about their rights.
Schedule a Free Consultation With A Wrongful Death Lawyer- Los Angeles
Safety on the road is the responsibility of all drivers, and car maintenance is a great first step at achieving this. Our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers have provided tips in this guide to help you take care of your vehicle. These tips will also prepare you for any legal battles surrounding a wrongful death claim or insurance disputes that may arise. Car safety should be approached with careful preparation and awareness, and you can help firsthand with overall safety on the road.
John J. Perlstein has over 25 years of experience in the practice area of personal injury cases. He will ensure appropriate financial compensation for victims of a wrongful death case and clearance for those wrongly accused.
Call (213) 252-1070 or fill out the form to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer regarding your case.