Equipment failure ranks alongside driver error, roadway design, and poor roadway maintenance as one of the leading causes of car accidents. Accidents due to equipment failure can be minor or catastrophic, depending on the timing and severity of the failure.

Equipment failure ranks alongside driver error, roadway design, and poor roadway maintenance as one of the leading causes of car accidents. Accidents due to equipment failure can be minor or catastrophic, depending on the timing and severity of the failure. Their risk is increased by the possibility of occurrence in conjunction with other high-risk conditions such as high-traffic or high-speed driving locations. Being aware of the ways that sudden equipment failure on your own vehicle or that of others can occur and place you at risk can help you to understand the importance of adequate car maintenance and its potential to save you from serious injury.

Common Types of Equipment Failure

The parts of your vehicle that are most subject to failure are, unsurprisingly, the parts that receive the most persistent and grueling use: tires, brakes, steering, and suspension. While tires have improved in quality and durability over the years, improper suspension and balancing paired with high mileage can lead to tread separation and imbalanced wear. Worn out and damaged tires are more prone to puncture, blowouts, and loss of traction, making stopping more difficult and increasing danger to the vehicle’s driver and others who share the road. Tires should be checked every 5,000 miles to avoid facing these problems in the form of an accident.

Brake technology has also greatly improved over time, making total brake failures or lock-ups very rare. However, problems still occur due to manufacturing errors and various malfunctions, some of which can lead to dangerous collisions. Steering systems are equally crucial and their failures sometimes equally threatening. Your steering system is your sole means of controlling the direction of the vehicle and should be treated with the appropriate consideration in maintenance. It is recommended that steering systems receive maintenance every 10,000 miles.

What to Do If You Are In an Equipment-Related Accident

If you have been the victim of an accident resulting from equipment failure, getting you back to full physical and financial health means finding skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced legal representatives to assist you in acquiring the compensation that you are due. Your interests will be best represented by a firm that not only understands the law, but medical terminology, conditions, and procedures as well. You must assume that the other party in your case will acquire skilled representation and that you must do the same to ensure your well-being.