Driving a car with faulty equ𒆙ipment, such as bald tires or broken headlights, can increase your chances of causing a traffic accident. Insurance companies can find out what condition your car was in before an accident by consulting multiple sources. If you don’t maintain your automobile correctly and have a wreck, your insurer may deny your claim, citing negligence.

Why the Insurance Company Might Deny Your Claim

Driving a vehicle with bald, damaged, or underinflated tires is dangerous and can lead to traffic accidents. Faulty tires can cause blow-outs, which can lead to crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tire-related traffic accidents alone account for almost 11,000 crashes each year, resulting in more than 600 fatalities. If a blow-oꦯut occurs when you’re traveling at a high speed, you could lose control of the car, ꩵthreatening the lives of you, your passengers, and other motorists. 

Car maintenance is a necessary expense that goes hand in hand with automobile ownership. 𝓡If you fail to keep up with car maintenance, your insurance company might deny a claim if you are involved in a traffic accident.

“Because an iꦦnsurance policy essentially acts like a contract between the insurance company and the policyholder, the policyholder has certain responsibilities, which include maintaining their vehicle,” said Ted Olsen, a v𓆏ice president at Goosehead Insurance.

“𝔉If the policyholder fails to maintain their vehicle properly, the insurer may have the right to deny a claim. Driving with old or worn-out tir𝓡es, for example, may increase your risk of accidents.”

But faulty tires are just one maintenance-related problem that can lead to an accident. Worn out brake pads can result in brake failure. Low oil levels can cause your vehicle’s engine to overheat and possibly shut down on the road. Broken or malfunctionin🍎g headlights or turn signals can make your car less visible, increasing the risk of collision with another driver’s car. Old wiper bla♓des can decrease your ability to see the road during a rainstorm.

“Insurance companies take vehicle maintenance very seriously, and many policies include maintenance clauses that require you to keep your car in safe working order,” said Brad W. Huffman, attorney and senior partner at Huffman & Huffman in Newport N🔯ews, Virginia.

“If an insurer can argue that neglect contributed to the accident, they might well deny your claim entirely or reduce the amount they’re willing to pay. ꧙From their perspective, the accident could have been prevented with proper upkeep.”

To keep your c🧸ar in tip-top shape and avoid an insurance claim denial due to poor upkeep, Olsen suggested following these maintenance tips:

• Check tire pressure regularly, rotate tires according to manufacturer recommendations, and replace tires when their treads appear worn.
• Check and refill brake, power steering, transmission, and windshield wiper fluids on a regular schedule. Replace fluids at intervals recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
• Change engine oil regularly.
• Frequently check your brake lights, headlights, taillights, and turn signals and replace those that don’t function properly.
• Replace worn wiper blades.
• Replace your car’s battery when charging issues arise.
• Replace your vehicle’s air filter regularly.
• Maintain a checkup schedule with a professional auto mechanic.

How the Insurance Co🌌mpany Knows What Shape Your Car Was In Before the Wreck

Insurance com🌱panies can use many resources to determine the condition of your car b🅰efore you filed a claim.

• Auto inspections: Some state insurance laws and insurers require you to submit to a vehicle pre-insurance inspection when purchasing a new policy. Typically, the inspection will examine brakes, exhaust systems, headlights, suspension, and tires, among other vehicle components and parts.
• Carfax reports: These reports can include your car’s mileage, damage history, and the condition of parts such as tires and windshields.
• CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange): Available through LexisNexis, CLUE reports track insurance claims on personal automobiles.
• Maintenance reports: Auto service centers typically generate condition reports when servicing your car.
• Mechanical breakdown insurance history: If you carry optional 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:mechanical breakdown insurance, your insurer may have access to your automobile’s inspection and repair records.
• Photos and videos: If you’ve recently bought a used car or have posted photos or videos of your ride on social media, an insurance company may have access to the images.

“Po💞lice reports will often include notes on visible issues like bald tires or broken lights,” Huffman said.

“Claims adjusters conduct thorough inspections of the vehicle, and they may check service ไrecords or Carfaꦜx reports to see if routine maintenance was neglected. In some cases, photos from the accident scene make it easy to spot problems like a blown tire or uneven tread, which can point to poor upkeep.”

The Bottom Line

If you own a car, it’s your responsibility to maintain it in roadworthy condition. Damaged or worn-out equipment, such as bald tires or faulty brakes, can lead to a traffic accident. If you’re involved in a crash, and the insurance company determines that negligent maintenance played 🌟a role, it can deny your insurance claim. You can avoid this costly mistake by addressing your vehicle’s maintenance needs as soon as a problem arises and by documenting all maintenance work.