Drivers are well aware of the need to fill their cars with gas, get their oil changed regularly, and top off other fluids, but they often fail to take care of routine maintenance like this with their tires. Tires are what protect you from riding on the road and take all the grunt work of a trip. The bottom line is, they are extremely important to your safety of and the safety of those in your vehicle.
If your tires aren’t in good condition, you risk hydroplaning, skidding, and having them fall apart while you are driving. If you’re traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Palisades, or any other road in New Jersey, the last thing you need is a tire malfunction to cause you serious injuries.
Underinflated Tires Put Your Life in Danger
For optimal performance and for your safety, tires should be kept at certain inflations. Newer cars are equipped with tire pressure monitors that can tell their passengers when it’s time to fill the tires up with air. On older cars, drivers need to do the checking themselves with a tire pressure gauge. Not keeping them at their proper inflation levels can cause a variety of issues and performance errors, such as:
- Crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that vehicles driving on tires that are more than 25 percent underinflated are three times more likely to be involved in crashes caused by tire problems than those that are properly inflated.
- Getting too hot. Much like engines can overheat, tires can, too. Tires underinflated by up to 25 percent run the risk of overheating, which can lead to failure and poor handling and tread life.
- Rollovers. SUVs get a bad rap when it comes to rollovers, but tires are partly to blame. According to a study conducted by the NHTSA, 45 percent of SUVs rolled over when they had tire problems. Other vehicles can be affected in the same way.
When You’ve Been Injured
If you were the victim of a crash caused by underinflated tires or any other issue, you may be entitled to receive compensation. The attorneys of Manfred F. Ricciardelli, Jr. may be able to help you.
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