Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
As you know, judging by the heat and the humidity, the summer is officially here. Unfortunately, so is the increased risk of a tire-related car accident in Fort Myers, Naples and elsewhere throughout the state. According to a U.S. Department of Transportation consumer advisory, this is the time for you to check out your vehicle’s tires to help prevent one of these serious accidents.
Motorists are urged to check the air pressure in their tires. Drivers should also check out the condition of their tires, looking for bulges, uneven wear and general conditioning. The hot summer weather and under-inflated tires prove to be a deadly combination.
Our Naples personal injury attorneys urge residents to take the proper safety precautions this summer to help to prevent an accident. As the summer travel season begins, motorists will be hitting the road. The consumer advisory has been released to coincide with National Tire Safety Week and drivers around the country need to be aware of the condition of their tires, but especially those in Florida and other hot-weather states.
“As the weather warms up, it’s especially important for drivers to ensure their tires are properly inflated,” Secretary Ray LaHood said. “For your safety and the safety of others on the road, inspect your tires regularly and maintain the proper inflation.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 3,400 people died from 2005 to 2009 because of tire-related accidents. Another 116,000 people were injured from these incidents.
“While it’s true improperly maintained tires can contribute to a crash at any time of year, it is particularly critical for motorists to check tires during hot weather, when families and luggage often overload vehicles for long vacation trips,” NHTSA Administrator David Strickland warned. “Underinflated tires spinning on hot asphalt for extended periods of time can be a recipe for disaster.”
Motorists are urged to check their tire pressure often, but more importantly before venturing out on long trips. Aging tires and scorching pavement cause many more accidents for which the cause goes unreported. Your risk of an accident only increases if your old tires are under-inflated. You can check with the tire manufacturer or with the vehicle’s owner manual for recommendations on how often you should change your tires.
Keeping your tires inflated will also help you to keep a little extra cash in your pocket. The Department of Energy reports that under-inflated tires can lower your vehicle’s gas mileage by about 0.3 percent for every 1 PSI (pound per square inch) drop in pressure for all of your tires.
This is how it adds up: If a vehicle with a fuel-economy rating of 30 miles per gallon and tires with a 35 PSI tire pressure recommendation experiences a drop of 25 percent in tire pressure then the vehicle would lose about 8.8 percent in fuel economy. This means you’d be losing nearly 3 miles per gallon!
Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, has spent four decades fighting for the rights of car accidents throughout South Florida, including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Port Charlotte and Sebring. Call for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
CDC Releases Report — Florida One of the Most Expensive States for Car Accidents , Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, May 19th, 2011
Global Campaign Looks to Decrease Number of Vehicle Accidents in Fort Myers and Worldwide, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, May 13th, 2011
