Maintenance

Each year in Hollywood and across Florida, pedestrians and passengers are serious injured or even killed because some negligent drivers do not take proper care of their vehicles. Both passenger car drivers and commercial drivers of big rigs and tractor trailers are expected to perform due maintenance of their vehicles. This is not just about making a car handle correctly; it is a safety issue. Poor maintenance can lead to mechanical failure, car breakdowns, and car collisions.

If you have been injured because a driver had a lax attitude about car maintenance, contact Flaxman Law Group at any time for a free case review. As part of the Hollywood community, the attorneys at Flaxman Law Group have seen far too many lives cut short or forever changed by negligence and our team wants to make a difference. If you have been injured, contact us to find out whether you have a legal claim.

Proper car maintenance involves some inspection and some preventative measures. It also involves taking the car to a body shop or professional if there seems to be something wrong. A driver may be doing a poor job on maintenance if they are:

• Not getting annual safety inspections
• Not checking steering, brakes, tires, and lighting systems regularly
• Doing repair work themselves or going to an unqualified mechanic
• Not checking out unusual sounds, poor handling, sticking brakes, and other signs of problems
• Not rotating and changing tires as needed
• Driving an old car far beyond its lifespan
• Driving on tires that are over- or under-inflated
• Letting tires become worn, bald, or damaged

In some cases, motorists try to avoid basic maintenance because they worry about the costs of car repairs and inspections. However, the human cost of mechanical failure can be very high. Due to negligence, a human life may be lost or an innocent driver may find themselves facing a lifetime of pain due to a serious injury. There is no excuse for not keeping a car safe; the costs of maintenance and repairs are part of the costs of owning a vehicle.

One of the problems with poor maintenance is that the average car owner can get away with it for a while. No one may notice that the car is in poor repair and the car may even continue to function for a while. Eventually, however, the lack of inspections and care can add up and can cause a variety of problems, including:

• Tire blowouts
• Car breakdowns
• Brake failure
• Loss of control of the vehicle
• Seatbelt failure
• Higher repair costs
• Collapsed roof
• Broken headlight systems
• Transmission problems
• Single-vehicle accidents
• Fuel leaks
• Overheating and fires
• Multiple-vehicle collisions

When a tire blowout or other problem causes a collision due to poor maintenance, those who are injured may have a claim against the at-fault driver for causing their injuries. In these cases, it may be possible for those who are injured to seek legal redress for their medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Whether you or a loved one has been injured in a car collision, we recommend that you contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation. Through our law offices in Hollywood, Homestead, and Miami, we reach out to plaintiffs across South Florida, offering legal advice and representation in products liability, car accident, personal injury, and wrongful death cases. Contact our caring legal team today to find out whether you have a claim.