Holiday Travel Auto Preparedness
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento auto accident lawyer. The holiday season is coming up fast, and many Californians will be on the road as they go visit family and friends. Others may use the time to take a winter vacation. A few tips on trip planning and safety on the road may help you and your family arrive at your destination and return home safely.
Checking Your Vehicle
Before taking to the road, doing a vehicle check is an important way to avoid problems. DMV.org recommends taking your vehicle to a mechanic or the dealership. There you can request a maintenance package, which includes inspection, tire rotation and other maintenance features.
- Check your vehicle’s fluid levels, including the windshield wiper fluid.
- Take care of needed servicing such as a tune up or oil change.
- Check the air filter, and change it if necessary.
- Check your vehicle’s battery. Remove corrosion from around the terminals if necessary. If the battery has been giving you problems, this might be a good time to replace it.
- Check your tires. Look for signs of excess wear or worn tread. Your manual or the placard placed inside the driver’s door will tell you how much air the tires should hold. Remember to check the spare if you have one.
- Remember to have your brakes checked. You can either have this done at a service station or by your mechanic or dealership. Worn brake pads or other brake problems can cause a serious accident if you have to stop quickly.
- Check the lights inside and outside to ensure that they work properly. Ensure your windshield wipers and horn work.
- Make sure you have what you need to change a tire in the event of a flat along the way. This would include a lug wrench, jack, spare tire in good condition, flashlight, gloves and road flares or triangles.
- Emergency supplies to take along may include drinking water, a first aid kit, snacks and other items depending on the weather in your area.
Planning Your Route
Planning your route in advance can be helpful, especially if you and your family are going somewhere you’ve never been before. If you don’t have a GPS, this might be a good time to get one. Going to the website for Caltrans can be helpful too. This way, you can check for areas with ongoing road maintenance and reported accidents to avoid those areas. Planning your route ahead of time avoids distracted driving along the way.
Pack Carefully
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 440 people died, 10,000 were injured and 51,000 accidents happened in 2010 because of flying debris from motor vehicles. A 2016 study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety agreed that crashes related to debris on the road were caused by items falling off vehicle roofs. Holiday travel can include suitcases, gifts, food to keep the kids happy. Some people place suitcases and other items on the car’s roof. Improperly done, may create a potential hazard. Vehicles differ in the amount of weight they can carry on the roof. Checking your vehicle manual for weight allowance beforehand is a good idea. Buying a reliable roof carrier makes it simple.
Compensation From Accident Injuries
Accidents caused by negligent drivers can cause serious injuries such as brain injuries, amputation injuries and spinal cord injuries. Financial injury can also occur from the high medical bills, lost time from work and other expenses caused by the accident. A seasoned personal injury lawyer can help by investigating the crash and compiling evidence to support your claim. After gathering all your medical and related expenses, he or she can present a strong case for recovery of damages.
Sacramento Auto Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento auto accident lawyer. There are times when you or a loved one is in need of free and friendly advice from an experienced and compassionate injury lawyer. When this happens, call me at or (800) 404-5400.
I am honored to have served the people of Sacramento and the surrounding area for 35 years to recover compensation for their wrongful deaths and traumatic injuries.
Client comments are found at Google, Avvo and Yelp. On my website, Verdicts and Settlements offers a partial list of some of our cases and results.
I am a California trial lawyer who belongs to Million Dollar Advocates. It is a group limited to those that have been awarded client case settlements and/or verdicts of at least $1 million.
My website, AutoAccident.com, offers extensive information on personal injuries and daily blogs on items of interest.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/map-vacation-travel-driving-2789052/
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