Prepping Your Vehicle for Rainy Weather
Since North Carolina has no distinct wet or dry seasons, it is important to keep all your vehicles rain-ready at all times. While there are many elements to driving safely in rain, one of the most important is that you have good tires. The more you drive, the faster you wear down your tires’ treads, making it harder to stop on rain-slicked streets. Have a professional look at your tires to see if they’re rain-worthy. A simple way to check for yourself is to insert an upside-down quarter into the tread. If you can see the top of George Washington’s head, it’s time for new tires.
Another piece of equipment that is vital to driving safely in the rain is windshield wipers. Like tires, the blades of windshield wipers are made of rubber and wear down with use. Even when they’re not used, their rubber can become stiff due to age, sunlight, and heat, causing them to perform poorly. For this reason, it’s recommended that you change your wiper blades regularly. Blades are fairly inexpensive and pretty easy to install. Many full-service auto repair stores like Pep Boys will install them for free if you buy them there. They will also make sure you get the right size because different vehicles require differently sized blades.
Finally, our auto accident lawyers stress the importance of checking and making sure that your headlights, taillights, turn signals, and brake lights are all working properly. Not only will they allow you to see better in bad conditions, but they will also help other drivers see you. While you can take precautions for driving in rain, you can’t count on other drivers to do the same.
If you find yourself in a rain-related accident, you may be facing costly repairs to your vehicle, and possibly injuries to yourself and your passengers. In such a case, you’ll need the advice of an experienced car accident attorney. The legal team at Wilmington’s Rhine Law Firm has been representing North Carolina accident victims for over 30 years, winning them substantial settlements.
