Avoid Car Accident Claims By Keeping Your Tyres In Good Shape

car accident claimMany drivers don’t realise how important the quality of their tyres are. Faulty tyres can lead to poor acceleration, braking and steering, and provide no defence in car accident compensation claims.

Motorists are also legally obliged to ensure their tyres are safe for the road. Light trailers, light vans and cars must have a tread depth of a minimum of 1.6mm, extending across the central three-quarters of the tread’s breath and across its entire circumference. Tyres should also be inflated to the specifications in the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook and data, so they are suitable for the load being carried.

Mixing cross-ply and radial tyres, using the wrong type of tyre, or using tyres with bulges, lumps and cuts, is also illegal and dangerous. Not only could you find yourself liable in road accident compensation claims, but you could also face a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points on your license for each illegal tyre.

 Tyre Safety Standards

The following tyre safety advice should help you avoid motor vehicle accidents and reduce your likelihood of being liable in car accident injury claims.

–          Adhere to tyre safety laws

–          Check the condition of your tyres

–          Check your tyre pressure every fortnight

–          Check that your tyres are marked with an ‘e’ to show they meet European safety standards

–          Check that your tyres meet British standards by checking they are marked with ‘AU144e’

–          Bring a spare wheel and ensure this wheel is safe

Spare Wheels

Ensuring that your spare wheel is safe and effective will reduce the likelihood of a puncture becoming a catastrophe. Many new vehicles do not contain spare wheels – manufacturers are trying to improve standards of fuel efficiency and are removing their spare wheel or making it an optional extra can reduce the weight of a car by as much as 30kg.

Tyre inflation kits are commonly provided instead of spare tyres, but are only suitable for small 4mm punctures, only provide temporary repairs and can be challenging for inexperienced people to use. This has seen the number of ‘puncture-no spare’ callouts received by the RAC increase by as much as 44% in just a year. The year preceding August 2012 saw 87,000 of these breakdowns, but the following 12 months saw 120,000. The RAC pointed out that spare wheels are unlikely to make a comeback in the immediate future, and has begun trialling a ‘universal spare wheel’ to support its members following breakdowns.

When tyres are punctured, inexperienced people may be unable to repair them properly, which can hamper their road safety and lead to car accidents. Drivers should bring a spare wheel with them wherever they go, and people without a spare wheel should call out the experts if they sustain a puncture. Car accident claims solicitors regularly see people who have been in serious road accidents and suffered devastating injuries because of punctures and other tyre-related problems, so ensuring your tyres are safe to use and that you have a spare to deal with any problems is a vital aspect of road safety.