If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident in Kansas City, MO, you know how traumatic the experience can be. Perhaps you’ve resolved to drive as safely as possible to avoid further accidents, but did you know that the things you do to your car can also influence your risk of having a collision? You can avoid needing to contact a attorneys that handles car accident cases, in the future by not making any of the following seven car ownership mistakes.
1. Avoiding Your Maintenance Responsibilities
If your approach to car maintenance is to put it off for as long as possible, you could be setting yourself up for an auto accident. All vehicles need regular maintenance to keep them running safely. Set yourself a regular maintenance schedule that includes essential tasks, including rotating the tires and changing the oil in your engine.
2. Ignoring Problems
Many car owners put off regular maintenance, but some take negligence one step further and ignore the early signs of problems developing. If you’re the kind of person who tapes over the check engine light, you need to change your ways. As soon as you see this light on your dashboard, or your car starts to make strange noises or develop handling problems, you need to consult a mechanic to find out what is wrong.
3. Doing Your Own Repairs
If you’re trying to stick to a budget, doing your own auto repairs can seem like an easy way to save a few dollars. However, the ultimate costs of a shoddy repair job can be much higher, as they could include the cost of hiring a attorneys that handles car accident cases like Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys, or paying compensation to drivers who you collide with on the road.
4. Using the Wrong Repair Shop
Making the decision to take your car to a professional repair shop is a good first step, but you also need to ensure the professionals you choose to care for your car have the right skills and experience. Always read reviews of local repair shops, so you can choose one that can provide high-quality repairs and maintenance for your vehicle.
5. Overheating Your Car
As you drive along the freeway, the engine in your car generates heat. Usually, this heat dissipates and doesn’t cause a problem, but on hot days the heat energy can build up under the hood of your car. If you keep driving, the engine could be damaged or even catch on fire. Don’t let this happen to your car; find a safe place where you can stop and let the excess heat escape from your engine.
6. Driving With Old Engine Oil
When was the last time you changed your engine oil? If you don’t know, you could be putting your engine under a lot of strain. Change your engine oil roughly four times a year if you use natural mineral oil. You only need to change your oil half as often if you use synthetic oil, but you still need to remember to change it on time.
7. Driving With Deflated Tires
Do you remember when you last checked your tire pressure? If you don’t know, go and check it now. Driving with tires that don’t have enough air inside can be very dangerous, as it pushes up the stopping distance of your car and also increases the risk of sliding on a wet road.
If you’ve been in a car accident, hiring an attorney will allow you to deal with all the other matters in life without having to worry about compromising your legal claim. Call the Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys for advice about your auto accident claim today.