Getting into an accident is traumatic enough but so is dealing with the aftermath. Besides having to deal with insurance and repairs, getting body work done can be very costly. There are simple ways to avoid accidents such as avoiding distracted driving, obeying traffic laws, and not following other vehicles too close. There are also certain types of defects make your vehicle more prone to accidents. At Auto Body Specialties, we provide parts for both auto restoration and collision repair. We love getting new customers but we don’t like people getting into collisions if they can avoid it. Our article this week will focus on vehicle defects that can cause accidents.

Tires: Worn, underinflated, unbalanced, or incorrectly tires can all contribute to losing control of the vehicle and causing an accident.

Brakes: Working brakes are essential to the safe operation of a vehicle. When brake’s pads, lines, or cylinders are in poor condition, braking can become harder or not work at all. When this happens, crashes are inevitable.

Windshield Wipers: When your wipers are damaged they will fail to adequately clear heavy rain and snow from your windshield. This leads to poor visibility which can in turn, lead to crashes.

Steering: When your power steering pump isn’t working or any other part of the suspension system, a driver may not be able to avoid an accident.

Ignition: An ignition switch that isn’t working can suddenly cause the engine to shut off. If this happens when you’re driving, it can cause a dangerous event.

Headlights/Taillights: Lights that are too dim or not working can be dangerous in two ways. Dimmer lights may not show up as well when driving in the dark or inclement weather. If your turn signal lights are out, you run the risk of causing an accident because other drivers will be unaware that you’re turning.