If you have ever been to Las Vegas, or any other part of Nevada for that matter, you know that the summer heat can be intense. This is particularly true when the heat bears down on vehicles. Paying close attention to your car or other vehicle while in Nevada will not only protect it from the damage of extreme heat but can also help keep you, loved ones, and others safe on the road.
Vehicle Safety Tips for the Summer
Proper vehicle maintenance is key to avoiding devastating and dangerous car accidents. In Nevada, the summer temperatures can regularly soar well above 100 degrees for several months at a stretch. Emergency roadside assistance calls often increase significantly when the temperature rises. According to the American Automobile Association (“AAA”), the number of calls it receives over the summer regarding overheated engines, dead batteries, flat tires, and other heat-related issues is over 78,000. Regular vehicle maintenance is vital when trying to reduce summer heat-related car issues. Try the following:
- Regularly Check Your Tires: The likelihood of having a flat tire increases in the summer months. Because tires typically lose about a pound of pressure every month, regular tire pressure checks and air fillings are key in avoiding accidents. In the summer, however, the heat can also result in expanding air in the tires, which can cause tires to weaken or rupture when encountering roadside debris.
- Protect Your Car Battery: Car battery failures are more common in the summer heat than during other seasons. Moreover, a car’s battery or battery fluid can be weakened by the heat and vibrations that are more likely to evaporate in the summer months due to the high heat. Thus, cleaning up when signs of corrosion appear and making sure your car battery is properly mounted can help prevent a battery failure in the middle of the summer heat.
- Always Top Off Fluids: Regularly maintaining vehicle fluids is especially important in the summer months due to the likelihood of evaporation because of the heat. Flushing the vehicle’s cooling system to make sure the engine does not overheat, along with topping off fluids, prevents evaporation and damage while on the road. Additionally, regularly maintaining the air conditioning system will not only keep you and your passengers comfortable, but will also prevent accidents by reducing driver fatigue and improving concentration.
Other Common Summer Injuries
Aside from car crashes due to heat-related vehicle issues, there are other common injuries that tend to happen in the summer. Not surprisingly, these injuries occur while people are participating in typical summer activities, such as:
- ATV-ing Injuries: While there may not be a ton of mud to drive and splash through in the summer heat, there are plenty of places where ATVing can be enjoyed on dirt tracks or through woods and fields;
- Boating Accidents: A favorite past time during the summer, this fun recreational activity can cause property damage and bodily harm. More often than not, the cause of boating accidents is due to the use of alcohol or other drugs;
- Bicycling and Motorcycle Injuries: The biggest danger to cyclists is an accident involving a vehicle. This is because cyclists have minimal protection from being injured or killed in an accident, even when they are wearing safety gear. Even with car-free bike paths, a cyclist can be hurt due to poor maintenance;
- Drowning Accidents: Swimming pools in private homes and on public property can result in injuries for swimmers. This can include slipping on a pool deck, injuries when jumping or diving into the pool, and even damage due to drowning or near-drownings.
If you have been injured in Nevada this summer, the experienced personal injury attorneys at H & P are here to help you or a loved one during this difficult time. We will fight hard for the compensation to which you may be entitled under Nevada law. Click here today to schedule an initial case evaluation.
