friends on a road trip through MassachusettsSummer is finally here. The summer season brings beautiful weather to Massachusetts and time for vacations and to enjoy the outdoors. The summer months also present some challenges for drivers in Massachusetts, specifically in the Boston and MetroWest area like Natick and Framingham that could cause a wreck and require the help of a car accident injury lawyer. Here’s a few tips to follow to keep you and others safe on our busy roads and highways.

Make Sure Your Car Is Ready

A poorly maintained vehicle can put a driver, passenger and others at risk and lead to car accidents and injuries. Vehicle issues, such as dead batteries and flat tires are, for the most part, avoidable with a quick vehicle check and following some important tips. The following safety tips will help to try and prevent these problems.

Car Batteries

It is estimated that car batteries have a lifespan of about three to five years. So, if your car or battery is older than 5 years, you may be at risk of battery-related issues. You should have your car battery tested at the three-year mark, and on an annual basis going forward. 

Tires

Getting a flat tire on a summer drive or on your way to vacation can be extremely frustrating and very dangerous. We have seen many car crashes in Massachusetts that were caused by a tire blowout. Make sure your tires are in good shape. You should check each tire’s tread depth, inflation and overall condition. Also inspect the tires for any cracking, bulging or breaks in your tires. This type of damage to a tire can cause blowouts especially on the hot roads at highway speeds.

Car Engine

You should always have your engine checked before the summer. Overheating your engine could cause you to breakdown on the highways and put you in a vulnerable position on the side of the highway with cars speeding by. Antifreeze, or coolant, has anti-corrosion chemicals to prevent rust buildup inside the engine. Flushing the engine and adding new coolant formula can help your engine during the hot summer months so you don’t breakdown.

Make Sure You Are Ready For Summer Travel

Traffic on our Massachusetts highways and roads increase in the summer time, especially around the summer holidays. I’m sure we have all sat in traffic on the way to the Cape, New Hampshire and other summer destinations. Increased traffic results in additional safety concerns that could result in serious injuries and ruin your summer. If you are hitting the road this summer, follow a few of these tips:

  • If you and your family or friends are heading out on a trip to the beach or a vacation, make sure you are rested before you drive. I think we can all agree that getting ready to head off on a summer vacation or trip is exciting.  But, don’t let that excitement cause you to sleep or rest less. Whether you are planning to drive 25 miles or 500 miles, being rested will help keep you alert and ready to react to negligent drivers on the road.  Also, after a long day at the beach, the sun can wear you out. Be careful on the drive home. Driving while drowsy or extremely tired can be as dangerous as drunk driving.
  • We all love the sun in the summer. But, the sun glare can be hazardous to drivers. Make sure you have your sun glasses so you can see better in the sun shine. Also, make sure your windshield is clean and free of dirt, dust and streaks that may affect your ability to see especially when the sun shine hits your windshield.
  • Make sure that you are wearing the proper shoes for driving. Sure, flip flops are great in the summer and perfect to wear to the beach. They are, however, not the best footwear for driving. They could get caught on the pedals or even slip causing you to make a dangerous maneuver while driving and result in an accident and injuries.
  • Taking a summer trip to the beach or a vacation can be a lot of fun with your family or friends. Try to avoid distractions from others in the car. Parents can sometimes become distracted by their children, who are all excited about spending a day at the beach, and these distractions could cause an accident. Be sure to avoid distractions and, if you need to, pull over to a safe place to address the needs of your children.

Share the Road With Others

Summer is the time of year that bicyclists and motorcycles are out on the road. It is a great time to go for a ride. If you are driving your car, be mindful of others, especially bikes. Sometimes they are hard to see. Motorcycle accidents can be catastrophic.

Also, in the summer, kids are out of school and are always outside playing. Be a cautious driver and watch out for children at the playgrounds, ball fields or even in their yards at home. Kids get excited and may run out into the street to chase a ball or toy.  As we all know, accidents can happen in a split second. Abide by the speed limit and make sure you are attentive when driving near where kids may be playing.

We Are Here To Help

If you, or someone you know, is injured in an accident this summer, feel free to contact us with any questions.  We are here to help. You can call us at (508) 879-3500 or contact us online. We are happy to help and answer your questions. 

Joseph M. Mahaney
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Injury lawyer serving car, truck, and motorcycle accident victims in Webster and Framingham, Massachusetts.
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