When drivers do not safely maintain their vehicle, they place passengers and everyone else using the roadways in danger. Teenagers’ lack of experience and familiarity with vehicle maintenance issues can result in motor vehicle malfunctions that cause car accidents or contribute to more serious injury in collisions.
A survey of parents revealed that approximately 66 percent reported their teens have minimal or no knowledge of vehicle maintenance issues.
Since teenagers do not have much experience with these issues, they may disregard warning signs like squeaking brakes or standard maintenance like changing brake pads or replacing worn tires. Although sixty percent of parents surveyed admitted that they consider it very important for their kids to be aware of basic vehicle maintenance, they also indicated that only about five percent of kids receive this information in driver education programs.
Parents can reduce the risk that their child will be involved in a car by discussing maintenance information, including but not limited to the following:
- Worn brake pads
- Depleted tire tread
- Damaged tire side walls
- Replenishment of steering and brake fluid
- Manufacturer schedule for vehicle maintenance
There are multiple types of equipment failure car crashes, which include the following:
- Defective Equipment Car Accidents: Sometimes a motor vehicle or individual component is defective so that it malfunctions and causes a serious car accident. Common examples include fuel systems that are prone to catch on fire and tires with improper bonding of tire treads. When vehicle or component manufacturers produce defective vehicles that cause collisions, the vehicle manufacturers may be liable for resulting injuries.
- Substandard Repairs: When repair shops fail to perform proper maintenance on brakes or other systems, these errors can cause critical failures that may cause a fatal collision. Repair shops have an obligation to exercise reasonable care in performing repair jobs to prevent collisions related to shoddy vehicle repair.
- Lack of Maintenance: When car owners fail to inspect their vehicle and conduct appropriate maintenance, they may be liable for crashes caused by their failure to keep their vehicle in safe operating condition. While most car accidents in Georgia are caused by driver error, vehicle owners can increase the likelihood of an accident when they do not perform appropriate maintenance.
When car accidents result from vehicle malfunctions, the task of proving fault can be complicated because it may be unclear whether the accident was caused by a defective component, poor repair work or the vehicle owner failing to keep his or her car properly maintained. Our Georgia car accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates are available to provide effective legal representation to clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED® (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
