Summer Road Trip Prep

The summer season is a busy time for travel and road trips are one of the most favored ways for families to enjoy a fun bonding experienced while exploring the country. Regardless if you are planning a short drive or a trip across the country, you should take certain safety precautions to ensure your car is safe and prepared for whatever adventure you plan on embarking on. Here are some of the important steps you should take prior to kicking off this summer on the road.

1. Schedule a check-up: It is always important to have regular maintenance check-ups performed on your vehicle, but even more vital if you are planning a road trip. Check your windshield wipers and make sure you have enough fluid. You do not want to have issues with visibility while on your trip, so this is crucial.
2. Battery care: You cannot get your road trip started if your battery is not in top shape, so be sure to check if it is strong and has clean terminals.
3. Inspect your tires: Again, this is another safety tip you should always bear in mind when hitting the road. However, taking a long trip on old tires that have seen better days can be even more dangerous or, at the very least, hugely inconvenient if you happen to get a flat. Check your tires for any tears or bulges on the sidewall and inspect the tread. If you do not have a gauge, an easy way to examine your tires is by holding a quarter upside down in the tread and, if the top of George Washington’s head is visible, your tires are in need of replacements.
4. Get your brakes checked: Make sure your service station inspects your vehicle’s brake pads to see if they are worn out and need to be replaced.
5. Always be prepared: Keep supplies in your car to ensure you are always ready for an emergency. It might never happen, but it is better to be ready. Your emergency kit should include a flashlight, a blanket, a first-aid kit, and basic tools that might be handy to have. Also, this is a road trip, after all, so bring water, juice, or soda, along with plenty of snacks.
6.  Pack smart: Be aware of your vehicle’s load capacity and make sure you are not overloading it with too much weight. Many new car print the total allowable weight on the door placard inside the driver’s door jam. Rooftop cargo boxes should carry light bulky items since heavy loads can make a vehicle more difficult to handle in emergency situations, increasing the risk of rolling over. Remove the roof rack if you do not plan on using it.
7. Track it: Portable GPS navigation systems can be incredibly helpful in getting you to your destination. Have your passenger operate this device to help you find gas stations or restaurants along the way. These devices can also warn you of road congestions, so you can avoid high-traffic situations.
8. Kids: If some of your passengers include children, be sure to also pack games, videos, music, and extra snacks and fluids to keep them occupied throughout the journey. A road trip goes a lot more smoothly when kids have options to keep entertained and busy. This also means they will not distract you from keeping your attention on the road.
9. Exercise some patience: Road trips are not without instances of heavy traffic. You could plan to drive either late at night or early in the morning to try to avoid this, but ultimately, it is best to factor in time spent waiting in traffic, in addition to food or bathroom breaks, when you are estimating the time it will take for you to reach your destination.
10. Be safe: This might sound like common sense, but still needs to be said – always drive safely and observe the rules of the road. This road trip is meant to be fun and is certainly not the time to start taking risks with the lives of your passengers as well as your own.

Montgomery County Car Accident Lawyer

Vehicle collisions make up the bulk of accident-related personal injuries, and none of them are ever simple. Insurance coverage questions for payment of your medical bills arise as well as questions regarding liability insurance coverage, which can all be complicated and somewhat confusing. Victims of car accidents are already overwhelmed by their injuries and the trauma of the event itself, so facing these legal complications on their own can be very daunting. At Morris Wilson, P.C., we are knowledgeable and experienced in providing advice to individuals who have been injured in automobile accidents and can help you through the confusion of dealing with insurance companies.

Our Montgomery County legal team has decades of combined legal experience, which we will utilize to effectively pursue just compensation on your behalf. In the past 5 years alone, we have secured over $30 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, which has helped alleviate their struggles during what is undoubtedly always a tough time. No one should have to pay for the mistakes of negligent individuals.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle-related accident of any kind, you might be entitled to recover damages. Contact us today at (610) 825-0500 for a free consultation.