Tag Archive for: car accident

car accident while on vacation

What To Do When a Car Accident Happens While on Vacation

Auto accidents occur when you least expect them. As a result, many injured victims are in a state of shock when they get involved in an accident due to another’s fault. But things can get worse when you are on vacation and experience a car accident.

Navigating an auto accident while on vacation in an unfamiliar state or city can make the process overwhelming. You need an experienced car accident attorney on your side to help you protect your interests and ensure you are compensated for the damages you suffered.

Steps to Take if a Car Accident Occurs When You are on Vacation in California

These are a few necessary steps to take if you are in a car accident while on vacation:

Alert the Authorities

You need to call 911 and let the authorities know the extent of the injuries, whether seemingly minor or major. You should make sure everyone around you is fine and seek necessary medical help. A healthcare professional will check you for injuries and document the extent of damage done.

There are other reasons to call 911 if you are in a car accident during a vacation trip. Rescuers can come to you as soon as possible to provide appropriate care. An ambulance can respond to any medical emergency, especially if someone is severely injured.

Firefighters may be required to remove a trapped occupant from the car. Police officers may file a crash report about the incident that can be used later during your car accident claim against the responsible party.

Gather Evidence

The next step is to take as many photos and videos as you can. You can ask a family member, friend, or a witness to take photos of the accident scene if you are injured or overwhelmed. Make sure you document your injuries and get any property damage.

You should also take pictures of the damage suffered by the responsible party. Also, take photos of debris from property damage, skid marks on the road, intersections, traffic signals, and anything else you think is important and can be used as evidence.

Remember that you can prove liability with the help of these pictures. The at-fault party may misrepresent the extent of your injuries or lie about how the accident unfolded. Their insurance company may also deny the claim, delay the process, or compel you to take the claim to court. When you are armed with factual evidence, the insurance company will have no other choice but to settle quickly and out of court.

Exchange Information

Every driver involved in a car accident is required to exchange certain information as per California Vehicle Code Section 16025. This includes:

  • Driver’s name and address
  • Driver’s license number
  • Registered car owner’s name and address
  • Vehicle identification number
  • Insurance policy number and information about the insurance carrier

Failure to do this may incur a fine. This information is needed by your accident attorney besides being a mandate to investigate the claim and ensure a quick favorable resolution.

Seek Urgent Medical Attention

Getting medical attention is a prerequisite to filing a personal injury claim. This is not the time to put on a brave face. You should be as honest about your injuries and pain as possible. The medical examiner will make a report of your injuries and pain which will be later used by the insurance company to either accept or deny a settlement.

Victims that suffer severe chest bruises, head lacerations, or bone fractures are usually taken to the hospital for further tests and treatment. You should keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor.

Talk to a Trusted Personal Injury Attorney in California

Reputable personal injury lawyers in California can guide you through the process if you find yourself in a car accident while on vacation. Your attorney will remind you of the things you need to do. Make sure you call an attorney immediately after dialing 911. They will also be able to answer any questions that you may have. Be as detailed as you can be with the personal injury attorney. They need the information to make a generous claim on your behalf.

You Deserve Compensation from the Negligent Driver and Other Potential Defendants

You may be able to seek compensation from the other driver if they were at fault for your car accident and injuries. Distracted driving, fatigued driving, reckless driving, and driving under the influence are common causes of accidents. You may be able to recover the cost of damages if the driver’s negligence resulted in the car accident.

You may be able to recover damages for things like medical costs, loss of current and future income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. It’s crucial to understand that California laws may not be the same as the laws in your home state. This may impact what you can recover and how much you can recover. With that said, it’s prudent to always work with a car accident attorney based in the state where the car accident takes place.

Our Southern California Car Accident Lawyers are Here to Give You the Best Legal Advice and Support. Call Today

If you or someone you love were injured in a car accident while on a vacation, the experienced attorneys at Garmo & Garmo, LLP can take the necessary steps to protect your legal interests and secure maximum compensation. Our resourceful attorneys have decades of experience in helping car accident victims hold negligent parties responsible. Schedule your free case review with our lawyers today. Call us at 619-441-2500 or contact us online.

ptsd after car accident

Coping With Emotional and Psychological Trauma from a Car Accident

Car crashes can cause an enormous amount of physical, emotional, and psychological trauma. Unfortunately, many victims only focus on their physical health needs while completely ignoring their mental health and well-being. Surgical care, physical therapy, and medication are vital to your recovery, but you shouldn’t allow mental health challenges to go unaddressed or unnoticed.

If you or a loved one in your family has been injured in a car collision, an experienced California personal injury attorney can help you pursue the compensation you are owed. Here are a few time-tested tips to cope with the psychological and emotional trauma of a car accident.

Don’t Rush Your Recovery

In general, victims of severe car accidents downplay the effects of the incident on their mental well-being. You cannot expect yourself to recuperate psychologically and emotionally in just days or weeks following the crash. In certain cases, the mind may require months of recovery and ongoing therapy before you start feeling safe again.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that 50% of the participants involved in a car accident showed clinical signs of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Over 70% of participants reported psychological problems which interfered with their school and work lives, and 52% of participants reportedly experienced severe social impairments in the aftermath of the accident.

Avoid judging yourself if you are unable to mentally heal or move on as quickly as you had hoped. Don’t put pressure on yourself to speed up the recovery process. Not only will this be of no help, but it may also hinder your recovery or complicate your health further.

Don’t Go into a Denial Mode over the Psychological Trauma

You shouldn’t attempt to deny or trivialize your mental trauma. You will only add to the pressure by ignoring your mental health needs. There may be people that have had it worse than you, but this is your trauma. You cannot force healing by reminding yourself to be grateful for not having a more devastating outcome.

You may just end up adding to the guilt and mental pressure by ignoring the negative emotions bubbling up inside of you. Instead, identify your feelings to figure out where they are coming from. This will allow you to start thinking about the things that will really help you.

Don’t Ignore Professional Help

If you wouldn’t attempt at managing your physical injuries without help following an accident, why should you try to heal your psychological and emotional trauma on your own? You should make your mental health a priority and do everything possible to move on from the accident. There are several psychologists, psychiatrists, and licensed therapists that can help you deal with your emotional and psychological trauma.

You should consider choosing a care provider with experience in PTSD and trauma-informed care. Mental health providers with expertise in the area can help you attain a better understanding of your needs even if you don’t have PTSD. The path to recovery can be a slow process, especially if you suffered serious injuries in the crash.

Hold the Negligent Party Accountable

Expenses following an accident can quickly pile up. Your stress, anxiety, and frustration may also be because of the worry surrounding these bills. You may wonder how you can afford psychiatric care and therapy on top of regular hospital bills when you are out of work. On top of that, you probably also have the expense of fixing a damaged or replacing a totaled one.

Fortunately, you may be able to seek compensation for all accident-related expenses if there is another party liable for the accident. An attorney can help you take the necessary steps to obtain fair compensation by figuring out who the responsible party is.

Your car accident attorney will take vital steps toward investigating the crash, estimating financial damages, and pursuing compensation through negotiations or a lawsuit.

You can improve the likelihood of affording therapy by seeking legal advice as soon as possible. Evidence won’t last for long and you need every shred of evidence to create a strong claim. You will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and have the peace of mind you need by holding the liable party accountable for their negligence and your pain.

Closure can be a strong healer. It can prove to be beneficial for your psychological and mental well-being.

Obtaining Compensation for Emotional Distress in California

Emotional distress is part of pain and suffering, which is also known as general damages since there is no specific dollar amount attached to them. The degree and severity of trauma experienced by individual car accident victims can vary depending on several factors. An experienced car accident attorney can help you obtain a reasonable estimate for your injuries.

You will need to demonstrate the mental effects of the car crash on your everyday chores and day-to-day life for making a successful claim for emotional distress. A car accident attorney will have the necessary resources for gathering the evidence required to substantiate your claim.

Get a Compassionate Car Accident Attorney in Southern California on Your Side

At Garmo & Garmo, we know what the injured victims and their families go through in terms of mental anguish and pain and suffering, apart from their physical injury and economic losses. Our car accident attorneys have the experience, knowledge, and resources to help you obtain the best financial compensation for your injuries so that you can move on with your life.

To schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with us today, call us at 619-441-2500 or write to us online.

 

parked truck caused accident

How Dangerously Parked Trucks Can Lead to Increased Collisions on The Road

Truck drivers are legally obligated to park their vehicles in such a way that it doesn’t cause an accident. Unfortunately, too many truck operators cut corners in a bid to maximize delivery time. There is often mounting pressure on truck drivers to ship goods in an unrealistic amount of time.

You shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of a serious accident just because a truck was dangerously parked by a negligent driver and a trucking company. It’s prudent to consult with a truck accident attorney as soon as possible to learn about your legal rights to financial compensation for your injuries and losses.

Liability of a Truck Driver in California

Truck drivers are to be blamed in most cases for an accident. Being a long-haul driver is a both demanding and tiresome job. The most cautious and exceptional drivers may end up making mistakes as a result of fatigue. They may try to speed up delivery times and cut corners to that effect. Such negligent mistakes and acts can threaten the lives of others on the road.

Truck drivers routinely make these common parking mistakes on California highways that cause a crash:

  • Parking in prohibited areas, such as residential neighborhoods
  • Parking without adequate warning lights
  • Parking next to intersection exits
  • Parking on the shoulder with a part of the truck sticking dangerously out on the road

The financial liability for the truck accident may solely lie on the truck operator or the trucking company. An experienced and resourceful truck accident attorney will try to identify whether the driver violated any municipal, state, or federal laws for maximizing your compensation.

 

Parking Violations are Not Strictly Forbidden

Such type of parking may be prohibited by local ordinance and law. However, they are not strictly forbidden by FMCSR (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations).

These are the rules that all truckers and trucking companies across the country are required to follow. However, just because the FMCSR is silent on this type of activity doesn’t mean that it is not dangerous. Further, silence doesn’t preclude the actions from being on a recovery basis.

For instance, parking a rolling billboard near an intersection even if on the shoulder of the highway will be seen as dangerous by any reasonable person. This is more than negligence.

It is pure recklessness on part of the driver and company. The fact becomes egregious when you realize that parking in that spot did not serve any purpose except to be convenient for the driver.

Additionally, the FMCSR doesn’t necessarily prohibit such parking activities. However, it does dictate the actions that drivers should take while stopping on the shoulder or on a roadway. 49 CFR 392.22 of the FMCSA regulations state that commercial vehicle drivers when stopping a truck on the shoulder or traveling portion of a highway are required to:

  • Turn on the vehicular warning signal flashers. These signals should be used till warning devices can be put in place by the driver.
  • Place reflective triangles, flares, and other warning devices around the truck for enhancing other roadway users’ recognition of the parked truck as a potential hazard. This should be completed within 10 minutes of stopping the truck.

Large trucks when parked along the side of a roadway pose unique dangers. This is why several trucking companies have adopted policies specifically forbidding such activity. You may have an additional basis for recovery if the trucking company fails to adopt such policies.

Building a Strong Compensation Claim in Dangerously Parked Trucks

Keep in mind that accident reports seldom provide an accurate account of what truly caused the accident. If you or someone you love was involved in an accident with a dangerously parked truck, you should identify the causes behind the accident. There is a high possibility that the authorities may overlook the incorrectly parked truck as the primary cause of the accident.

The first step to building a strong compensation claim is to discover all dangerous acts that may have caused the accident. This is where you may need to consult with an experienced law firm.

They will have the necessary resources to undertake an investigation into the cause of the accident. In fact, you may not even be completely aware of your legal rights and potential claim.

The law firm will thoroughly investigate the accident and its causes for determining all responsible parties. In the case of a parked truck, they will identify why the truck driver stopped, the location of the parked truck, and whether the driver followed all relevant and applicable safety guidelines.

It can be difficult to pursue justice against large insurance and trucking companies. Well-established law firms will lend the necessary credibility to your case to make insurance adjusters take you seriously.

Speak With an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney in Southern California Today

Injuries sustained from trucking accidents can be significant and painful. Because of the large size of the truck, these accidents can result in devastating consequences. You need an attorney that understands what you are going through and has the skills and resources to fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.

The proven and considerate attorneys at Garmo & Garmo, LLP have helped many truck accident injury victims obtain substantial recovery. Schedule your free and confidential consultation with us today. Give us a call at 619-897-2144 or write to us online.

 

third-party caused car accident

Determining Liability When a Third Party Causes a Car Accident

Millions of car accidents take place in the United States every year. Most of these crashes or collisions result from some type of negligence of one of the drivers, but sometimes third parties may also be liable for the victim’s injuries.

Pursuing injury claims against third parties is often more difficult and complicated as compared to regular car accidents. This makes it vital to work with a skilled car accident attorney that has an understanding of such cases and the proven ability to make sure all accountable parties are held liable for your damages.

Third Parties Responsible for California Car Accidents

Employers

Employers can be held liable for a car accident if an employee driving the company vehicle results in a crash. Pertaining to this, the employee should have been performing job-related duties.

The liability may extend to include an employee that is using their personal vehicle for work-related duties. The employee should also be acting within the scope and course of their employment.

There have been cases where the company claims the responsible driver is not an employee but an independent contractor. You should know that you still have a claim in such cases. In fact, situations, where employees are intentionally misclassified, are usual in the trucking industry. Lines between employees and independent contractors are often blurred in these situations.

Rideshare Companies

Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies frequently maintain that their drivers are not employees, but independent contractors. The majority of states have now agreed with this classification making it difficult for a personal injury victim to obtain compensation. In relation to this, this should not stop you from filing a claim against the rideshare company’s insurance policy.

For instance, Uber maintains $1 million of liability coverage for accidents that occur while transporting a passenger. The coverage is reduced when the driver has their app turned on but is not transporting a passenger in the vehicle. Having an experienced and hard-working car accident attorney by your side can be helpful in obtaining the compensation you deserve.

The insurance coverage of the rideshare driver will cover damages up to the policy limit if they already have a passenger or are on their way to pick up a passenger. The rideshare driver’s own insurance policy will apply if the damages exceed the policy limit. Lyft and Uber carry $1,000,000 in coverage above a contracted driver’s policy limits to cover any accident claims.

This coverage is available to victims of rideshare accidents to cover both economic and non-economic components.

Car Repair/Maintenance Providers

There are instances in which the accident happens due to faulty brakes or other avoidable circumstances. The vehicle repair shop can be potentially held responsible for the accident if they did a shoddy job and the car malfunctioned. Moreover, you will need strong evidence to prove the car accident was because the repair or maintenance shop did not perform as promised.

Product Manufacturers

The manufacturer, distributor, and other related parties within the supply chain of the faulty product can be held liable for the accident if a manufacturing or design defect results in a car accident. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and computer malfunctions are a few examples of product defects that can cause an accident.

Car Owners

It’s not necessary that the person driving the car is also the car owner. The car owner can be held responsible for the accident if they entrust their vehicle to someone that is intoxicated, inexperienced, or known to be an unfit or dangerous driver.

The car owner may be found to be responsible under the theory of “negligent entrustment.” Liability may extend to parents, grandparents, and guardians that entrust the vehicle to a minor in their care.

Liquor Providers/ Establishments

Californian courts have held that liquor stores, bars, and other similar establishments may be held responsible for a car accident that is caused by someone that became physically incapacitated by drinking at their establishment. You would need to establish that the person was visibly intoxicated when the establishment was still serving them. Eyewitness testimony and video footage are usually helpful in proving such claims.

Claiming Compensation from At-Fault Third Parties in Car Accidents

It’s a unique and complicated process to bring a claim against third parties in car accidents. Injured parties require experienced attorneys for handling their cases. You may need to bring your personal injury claim within two different judicial systems depending on the third party involves. This can be the Industrial Commission and the state or federal court for example.

Different laws and regulations may be invoked for guiding the standards of care and negligence depending on the third parties involved. You may require unique discovery tools in such claims, like FOIA requests. The negligent driver and negligent third party may be held responsible since California follows the doctrine of joint and several liabilities.

Every party that is found to be negligent of the accident is responsible for the full amount of the victim’s damages under this doctrine. It may be complicated to resolve your claim and obtain the maximum settlement. You would need to employ a proper strategy for attaining a favorable resolution if there is more than one negligent party.

The smallest mistake in paperwork can negatively affect or even prevent you from recovering your damages. This is where an experienced and established law firm can be invaluable.

Legal Help is Here from Top-Rated Car Accident Attorneys

The skilled personal injury attorneys at Garmo & Garmo, LLP have the required knowledge, experience, and resources to ensure that all responsible third-party entities are held liable for your damages. This will ensure that you receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to. Schedule your free case review with our lawyers today. Call us at 619-897-2144 or contact us online.

 

dashcam footage in a car accident

How Dashcam Footage Can Impact a Car Accident Case

It’s sometimes difficult to prove the liability of the negligent party following a car accident that resulted in your injuries. A dashcam or dashboard camera can be a helpful tool in establishing fault if you are involved in an auto accident. These tiny cameras can be mounted on the vehicle’s windshield or dashboard to record everything that happens in front of the car. Most dashcams continue recording as long as the vehicle is in gear.

With that said, a few intricate models also record interior video and audio, stream directly on the internet, or show rear-facing video on the rearview mirror. As per Statista, the dashcam industry has grown at a consistent rate over the last 10 years, and millions of dollars worth of dashcam equipment are installed every year in the US.

California Allows the Use of Dashcam Footage as Evidence

Drivers can install and use dashcams in their private vehicles. However, there are a few limitations. For instance, the dashboard camera cannot obstruct windshield visibility. It cannot be too large. The size limit also depends on the installation area, like the lower-right corner or the upper center area of the windshield.

You cannot install the camera where it may get in the path of an airbag. It’s vital that you inform the other occupants if the dashcam records audio as well. You can use the recordings from your dashcam as evidence only if it fulfills these requirements.

Potential Impact of Dashcam Footage on Your Case

Advantages of Dashcam Footage

Precisely remembering and describing the events of an accident can often get challenging after a serious accident. You or the other driver may be unable to state the events accurately. In addition, errors may be made in police reports. Dashcams can reveal valuable evidence, such as someone else running a red light, another car cutting you off, or a vehicle refusing to yield the way at an intersection.

Such evidence doesn’t just prove the other driver’s fault but also depicts the precise way in which the law was violated. This makes dashcam footage valuable. A majority of car insurance claims end up as he-said-she-said disputes. You may be able to strengthen your claim with dashcam footage and save a considerable amount of time.

While this footage may not prove to be conclusive evidence of events, it can certainly assist with your claim. Dashcam footage provides strong evidence in car accident claims. The insurance company will take your claim seriously when you submit the footage. They will calculate the potential impact of the recording on a deliberating jury. You may be able to fast-track the compensation process.

Timestamped recording can provide sufficient evidence for the insurer to settle the claim without going to trial. You don’t just fast-track the process, but also save on considerable expenses and legal fees. Taking this into account, you would still need an attorney to negotiate with the insurance company.

Insurers do everything in their power to invalidate such recordings. For instance, the insurance carrier may claim the video is invaluable if the image is grainy because of fog, rain, or other conditions.

You would need to prove to the jury and judge that the recording accurately details the events in question if the case goes to trial. The judge may want to view the footage before the jury sees it. The jury’s determination of liability and damages may get affected favorably if the judge decides to permit the recording.

Risks of Dashcam Footage

It’s critical to understand that dashcam does not take sides. The dashcam footage will display your actions too, which can have a negative impact if you contributed to the accident in some manner. The car insurance company may get a court order for obtaining the recording.

For instance, the dashcam footage may show that you switched lanes multiple times before the other car sideswiped you. An expert may project that the wreck occurred when you were speeding. Dashcam audio may record your drowsiness or tiredness before the accident. Or it may prove that you were listening to loud music and were somehow distracted when the accident took place.

Car insurance companies are always on the lookout for their best interests. They will use the footage against you in whatever way possible. Dashcam footage can make serious dents in your claim if it is deemed that you were at fault for the accident too.

Incidents Captured by Dashcams

No one should be able to dispute the recording if the dashcam clearly captures the events that occurred before, during, and after the accident clearly and with a timestamp. For instance, the dashcam may be able to record the license plate, color, make, and model of the vehicle that hit you. This kind of information is highly valuable in hit-and-run accidents.

A dashcam can record the following information in addition:

  • That your car was keeping straight in the same lane
  • That you were not speeding
  • That you were hit by another car on the right or left
  • That the car traveling ahead of you swerved into your lane

Dashcam recording can show other useful events that may happen following a collision. These are a few things that can help strengthen your claim:

  • The other driver’s hostility
  • The other driver’s apology
  • The other driver’s visibly alcohol or drug impaired behavior

Having a favorable dashcam recording doesn’t automatically help your claim. Insurance companies may still try to short-sell. You should consider speaking with an experienced car accident attorney to maximize your compensation.

Talk to a California Auto Accident Attorney Today

You may be owed compensation if someone else causes the car accident. The legal team at Garmo & Garmo, LLP has helped many victims like you. Our first try is to negotiate with the insurance company so that you get the compensation you deserve without having to go to trial. Schedule your free case review with our lawyers today. Call us at 619-897-2144 or contact us online.

 

defective tires cause accidents

How Defective Tires Can Cause Auto Accidents

Defective tires are one of the major reasons for automobile accidents. Most drivers overlook the importance of periodically checking car tires. This essential component of a car can have a major impact on overall driving safety. Faulty tires can also result in accidents causing severe or fatal injuries.

A car accident injury attorney can help if a driver caused a car accident resulting in injuries and losses to others because they were negligent in checking the tires. Similarly, tire manufacturers, car companies, and car dealers may also be held liable if the accident and injury occurred due to a manufacturing defect in the tires. This article explores a few common types of tire defects which can cause a car accident.

Common Tire Defects in California

Tire defects can happen for a wide array of reasons. In relation to this, the more common causes are because of defects in the manufacturing or designing process. Overworked tire manufacturers may produce defective and deadly products in their efforts to meet a certain amount of per day tire manufacturing quota.

In some cases, tires that don’t show any physical signs of defect can prove to be incredibly dangerous depending on their condition and age. These are a few common tire defects:

  • Belt separation
  • Tread separation
  • Improper repair of tire puncture
  • Tires manufactured without prevention design features
  • Retread failure
  • Unsuitable tires as per the vehicle type
  • Design and manufacturing defects
  • Tires damaged during the mounting process
  • Aged and old tires
  • Side all blowouts
  • Zipper failures
  • Bead defects
  • Trapped internal air pockets within the tires
  • Foreign materials within the tire

Tire Defects Can Cause Catastrophic Accidents

Different types of accidents can occur when motorists drive with defective tires unknowingly. As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a minimum of 11,000 tire-related accidents take place each year.

Defective tires can easily explode while being inflated leading to serious injuries. Blowouts, tire explosions, and tread or belt separations can result in serious vehicular accidents.

These are a few common types of car accidents that can result from defective tires:

  1. Loss of control

The defective tire may explode or blow out unexpectedly causing drivers to lose control of their cars. The car may skid, swerve, spin, or rollover. Loss of control accidents can be single-vehicle crashes or involve multiple cars.

  1. Rollovers

Rollover accidents take place when a vehicle rolls onto its roof or side. As per the NHTSA, rollover accidents have the highest fatality rate as compared to any other type of vehicle crash. Tire defects and failures can result in dangerous rollover accidents, which may cause fatal or devastating injuries.

  1. Run off the road

Defective tires can easily cause a vehicle to entirely run off the road. It may make the vehicle jump into the opposite lane. The driver may get involved in a head-on collision as a result. Head-on collisions are rare, but deadly because of the high speeds involved.

Defective Tire Treads Can Cause Serious Injuries

Accidents as a result of defective tires can cause serious injuries. In some cases, the accident may prove to be fatal as well. These are a few common tire defect accident injuries:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Closed head injuries (CHI)
  • Chest injuries
  • Neck and whiplash injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Broken bones
  • Damage to the back and spinal cord
  • Bruises
  • Amputations
  • Internal bleeding
  • Paralysis
  • Wrongful death

Signs of Defective Tires

NHTSA conducted a study of 11,500 vehicles in 2014 and observed that an estimated 50% of cars were being used with at least one worn-out tread. Also, 1 in every 10 vehicles had at least 1 bald tire. This only goes to show that majority of vehicle owners and drivers are not serious about keeping up with tire maintenance. They don’t check their tires regularly either for ensuring whether they are in good shape or properly functioning.

Performing the penny test is an easy way of checking the tires’ tread. In this test, a penny is placed in the tire tread. You probably need to replace the tire if you can see the penny mostly or the top of Lincoln’s head. Your tire is likely in good shape if the penny goes in most of the way and you cannot see Lincoln’s head.

In addition, most tire warranties are meant to last for a certain amount of time or cover a specified number of miles. For instance, the tire may have a warranty covering them for the first 50,000 miles. You should take advantage of the warranty if you believe the tires are defective and still in warranty. You may be able to get the tires replaced if required.

Other signs to look out for include:

  • Bulges or blisters indicating a weak spot (immediate replacement)
  • Uneven tread wear
  • Cuts or cracks in the sidewall
  • Worn out tread
  • Vibration while driving

Speak with a Dedicated Car Accident Attorney in California Today

The experienced attorneys at Garmo & Garmo, LLP are here to help you if you or a loved one was injured in a vehicle accident. Our capable lawyers will fight aggressively to get you the compensation you deserve. You can schedule an appointment today by calling at 619-441-2500 or using our online contact form.