What to Do If Involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident
Motor vehicle accidents can be trying experiences. They may involve vehicles such as motorcycles, trucks/SUVs, semi trucks and cars. The legal issues are often varied too.
For example, if you are involved in a car accident, there are important issues stemming from the type of car insurance you purchased. In no-fault states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you will have medical benefits coverage under you car insurance policy that covers medical bills for you and your family. Your health insurance will only cover you or your family after the medical benefits under the car insurance policy are exhausted. Moreover, you would have selected a lawsuit option under your policy. In Pennsylvania, you selected either full tort or limited tort. In New Jersey, you had to select the lawsuit limitation or zero limitation. Oddly enough, your selection of a lawsuit option affects whether you may bring a personal injury claim against the person who caused the accident. There are exceptions, however. For example, you will be deemed to have selected the full tort option in Pennsylvania if the accident is caused by an intoxicated driver, whether from alcohol or medication.
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer, there are state and federal regulations governing the operation of the vehicle including the number of hours the operator is permitted to drive daily. Here is a brief listing of some of the federal regulations: Title 49 CFR Part 391 – Qualifications of Drivers, Title 49 CFR Part 392 – Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles, Title 49 CFR Part 393 – Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation, Title 49 CFR Part 395 – Hours of Service of Drivers and Title 49 CFR Part 396 – Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance.
In addition, most current day trucks including tractor-trailers have data recording devices or “black boxes” that may obtain critical information about your accident. This data needs to be preserved immediately. If the data is favorable to you or your family, the owner of the tractor-trailer may well be disinterested in its preservation. The data can be easily written over once the tractor is put back on the road.
Here is a checklist of what steps you should take after being involved in a motor vehicle accident.
* Call police immediately at 911 if you or anyone is hurt and/or if there is damage to vehicles or property. It is important that a police report be filed of record.
* Keep calm. Make no statements to anyone about the accident, or who might have been at fault. Do not answer questions about the accident for anyone except the police or medical personnel.
* If possible, write down the date, time and place of the accident. Or do so as soon as you can afterwards.
* If possible, exchange driver’s license and vehicle registration and insurance information with other parties involved.
* If possible, get names and addresses of witnesses.
* Write down the name, badge number and jurisdiction (i.e., Philadelphia, Cherry Hill) of the police officer taking your accident report.
* If possible, take photographs of the scene and vehicles involved.
* Describe the accident to the police as simply as possible. Do not assess or accept blame.
* If another party’s insurance company or investigator asks you to sign any papers or provide a written or recorded statement, do not do so without first consulting with an attorney.
Finally, keep in mind that you should make objective decisions about fault for the accident including who is responsible for paying to have the vehicles repaired. Important decisions may also be needed regarding medical care. Try to keep your emotions from clouding your judgment. …
It’s not hard to learn about how to fix your car. Learning more about auto repairs can help you save a lot. Read this article to find out more about auto repairs and mechanics.
Never underestimate how important it is to carrying an emergency kit inside your vehicle. This kit should include specific tools for charging your battery, changing your tire, etc. Blankets, matches, a flashlight, extra batteries, cans of food and some water help, too.
You don’t want rust to attack your car so take the time to wash it on a regular basis. When you keep your car clean, rust will be held back. Use a good wax to protect your paint job as much as possible.
Go through your automobile’s manual and make sure to mark important pages. This will help you speak intelligently to a technician about your car when it is time to take it in. What you think may be an issue, may not be at all according to the manual.
Examine your headlights if they appear dim; they may simply need a good clean. Residue can diminish their light output. Use a reputable glass cleaner to get the job done efficiently.
Before you take your car to the shop, always make an attempt to identify the problem yourself. You can save a lot of money by diagnosing it yourself, and it could also protect you from being a victim of fraud. Unfortunately, some shops are less than honest when diagnosing issues.
Repairing your car yourself could be hazardous. Be sure someone is watching you repair the vehicle just in case something bad happens. Buy some good quality tools that will last. This is particularly true with tire changing tools. The jack has to be strong enough to keep the car secure above you. Buy an adequate hydraulic floor jack that has approved jack stands.
Avoid diagnosing car problems yourself. You’re still new to this! What can seem like it’s simple to fix may be a lot harder, especially if the vehicle is newer. To be sure that the job is done right, have an auto repair shop diagnose the issue. Give them as much information as possible, but in the end, let them perform the diagnosis.
Always bleed the brakes after working on them or preceding a test drive. Following this, pump the brake fluid. Check to make sure there are no leaks that can cause the fluid to escape. Once you have done these things, you can take your car on a test drive; however, make sure you drive in areas without much traffic. Begin slowly to be sure they’re repaired well prior to trying higher speeds.
A lot of auto repair is based on people being consistent in what they do. If you’re lucky enough to have a shop you trust, use them regularly. Each shop may provide a different answer to your problem. They could also charge you more; don’t let this happen.
If you know the basics, there is no need to fear having car performance issues. You may even be able to do the repairs yourself and avoid the mechanic, saving you money. Keep these tips in mind whenever you experience car problems.…
Do Your Research Before Completing a Used Car Purchase
The gas prices have fluctuated numerous times, during the recent years; causing pure panic for many car users. The question of buying a new car, over a used car, can be frustrating to answer. A new car is suppose to guarantee a certain amount of miles per gallon, in addition to not being expensive to repair (warranty). Conversely, there are tons of used cars that can last for a good long period of time, while establishing a reputation of giving the owner a run with their money.
Used Cars Have Proven Themselves
The gift of owning a used car can be prestigious. A used car comes in many forms: Peugeots, Jaguars, and Corvettes, for example. There are the other great legends, as well: the gas saving Honda Civic and Ford Festiva. As consumers, there is an appreciation for those times of valued prestige. The used car market is attempting to explode.
The Federal Government Gets Involved
There are laws being passed that are issued in order to protect the prospective used car buyer. For instance, the California Senate Bill 990. This bill is designed to assist the buyer by enabling being informed. The Senate Bill 990 represents requiring a used car dealer to supply the consumer with the vehicle history report from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). This report consists of information regarding the previous conditions of that particular vehicle. The report lists if the used car has been salvaged in a junk yard or is a flood victim.
In reference to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS); this informative entity is a product of the Federal Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992. However, in 1996, Congress reauthorized this act and issued the responsibility to the U.S. Department of Justice. Ultimately, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System(NMVTIS) was developed to prevent reintroduction of stolen vehicles into interstate commerce; shield consumers from fraud; and to protect consumers from unsafe vehicles.
The issue with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is that the consumer commonly has to request this report. If the consumer requests this report, then the vendor is obligated to allocate this report as soon as possible; before the used car sales transaction may be completed.
The Private Sector Gets Involved
Popular private organizations may furnish the same types of reports for used cars. The Carfax and Experian are two examples of the private utilities that are news worthy. Their reports are accurate and also are based on the used car’s vehicle identification number (VIN #). An elaboration, the used car history report is based on the collection of information from collision repair facilities, auto auctions, and police and fire departments. The information is specifically based on the vehicle title. So, make a note; be sure to investigate the used car’s vehicle history before completing your purchase. It might be worth your while; both saving time and money.…
Tips For Maintaining Your Car Annually
There is a time and a season for everything. Cars need to be properly taken care of. During the winter months, certain maintenance procedures should be completed, and others can be saved until the summer.
The winter brings harsh and dangerous road conditions. That is why it is so imperative that you keep your car in top shape by having it routinely checked by your local Utah auto repair dealer. Winter is no time to slack on repairs and maintenance checkups.
Annual maintenance checks are important to keeping your car working its best. Utah auto repair technicians do a wonderful job checking your car through out the different seasons. However, there are still maintenance checks that need to be done any time of the year. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Regularly check your battery to make sure it is working. Utah auto repair technicians can check your battery for you. You do not wish to be stuck with a car that won’t start, do you?
2. Check the spark plugs. Spark plugs need to be working correctly. They affect your car’s gas mileage and reliability.
3. Have your brakes inspected. Go to a Utah auto repair shop to check your brakes. Everyone benefits from working brakes, including you, your passengers, and everyone on the road.
4. Change your oil. It is important to replace your oil to keep your car in good and working order. This is a well known tip, but it is none-the-less important.
5. Remember to rotate your tires. Keep a log of when you have rotated your tires so you know how much wear and tear your tires are getting. Having a Utah auto repair shop rotate your tires will make your tires last longer, and save you from having to buy brand new tires as soon.…
Learning what you can about auto repair may seem like a lot of work, but it’s generally not too difficult if you put some time into it. Teaching yourself about cars can really be useful in the future. Keep reading to learn how to fix your vehicle yourself instead of always going to the expensive mechanic.
Before allowing them to repair your vehicle, verify that the mechanic has A.S.E. certification. This kind of certification tells you that whoever will be working on your car has a couple years of experience and has passed a test. This is one good way to separate the wheat from the chaff when picking a good mechanic.
Do not be afraid to ask lots of questions whenever you take your vehicle to the auto shop. Be sure the questions involve the problems you are having with your car and what you can do to prevent it from happening again. Preventing automotive issues is a valuable skill to save money during the year.
Before allowing an auto shop to do repairs to your vehicle, ensure you are aware of the total cost. If you don’t understand something, ask questions until you do. Don’t be surprised with extra costs when the car has been fixed.
Make sure to have all your car records on hand. It is a good idea to leave these in the glove compartment because you never know when your car has to go to the shop suddenly. Auto service experts may need to refer to them. These documents can help the mechanic figure out the problem quicker.
Every time you have your car fixed, regardless of the reason, you should take note of it. If you have problems later, these records can come in handy. Not maintaining these records will likely mean you have to spend more money because diagnosing the problem will be harder for the mechanic to do.
Be wary of unscrupulous mechanics who make unnecessary repairs to your vehicle. They should contact you before doing any extra work. Don’t go back to mechanics who made unneeded repairs.
Get OEM components. These parts are original and from the manufacturer. Generic parts may cost less, but they are not as good. What saves you a bit of money in the short term, may end up costing you dearly in the long term.
Look out for obvious “red flags” when dealing with a new auto repair company. If they avoid your questions, you may want to look elsewhere. It is good to feel like you trust your mechanic, so move on if you don’t feel like you can.
Always try to figure out the problem with your car before you bring it in for repairs. You can save lots of money if you diagnose the problem on your own, and you may also be able to prevent yourself from being swindled. It’s an unfortunate fact that there are dishonest mechanics who will tell you your car has issues when it doesn’t.
If you have a bit of basic knowledge, you should see that car repair is not so frightening as it may have once been. You will be able to rely on your skills so that you’re able to save some cash. Use the tips from this article and take the time to do more research on this topic.…
Importance of Servicing Your Cooling System
The cooling system of any vehicle performs an important role in the life of your vehicles engine.
The cooling system consists of multiple components, included in this list are the radiator, the radiator cap, the overflow bottle, the cooling fan, the coolant hoses, the thermostat, the water pump, and the heater matrix also known as the heater core.
The Radiator begins the cycle. In most instances it sits at the front of the engine bay and is made out of steel, aluminium, plastic or any combination of each. All radiators share common characteristics. A normal radiator will have either side or top and bottom reservoirs for holding coolant with a series of thinner fins connecting both tanks. As coolant circulates through the radiator it is forced through these fins. The fins, in turn because of their placement at the front of the engine compartment, have cool air directed over them either from driving or from the cooling system fan that is normally installed on one side of the radiator. This cool air helps cool down the coolant inside the radiator.
The radiator cap is important as it has a pressure activated spring inside of it. Normal pressure of a cap varies but the most common are between 10lb and 16lb of pressure. If the cooling system develops more pressure than the cap is rated for, the spring collapses by design and releases the pressure into the overflow bottle. If this cap malfunctions you run the risk of building too much pressure in the cooling system and damaging other portions of the system which are not built to handle higher pressures than the system is rated for.
The overflow bottle has an important function. When a vehicle heats up and coolant expands it needs somewhere to go rather than just being expelled onto the roadway. The overflow acts as a catch can for the expelled pressure and any fluid that comes out with it. If the system is working as designed, then as the vehicle cools it develops a vacuum inside the system and draws the once expelled coolant back into the radiator until such a time as it needs to release pressure again.
Many cooling fans are electric now, but you can still find some vehicles powered by what is called a viscous fan. A viscous fan works with an internal clutch system and draws air over the radiator fins to aid in cooling the fluid in the radiator. If the internal clutch of the fan deteriorates you may notice the temperature gauge of the vehicle running slightly hotter than it normally did when the fan was operating properly. Electrical fans are powered by electrical sensors that tell the fan when to switch on or off. These sensors are called coolant temperature sensors and if one is faulty it can cause the cooling fan to not come on at all causing the vehicle to run much hotter than it normally would under normal circumstances.
The coolant hoses transport the coolant in the system through a large loop. The hoses are normally made of rubber and do not have an infinite life span. They should be checked regularly at normal service intervals to prevent problems at later dates.
The thermostat is another important part of your cooling system. The way a thermostat works is by an internal heat activated spring. The main goal of the thermostat is to regulate the flow of coolant through the entire system. From cold, as coolant sits in the engine block the thermostat is closed. This effectively stops the flow of coolant through the system and allows it to come up to operating temperature. Once operating temperature is reached in the engine the heat is transferred to the spring in the thermostat allowing it to open. This then allows the warm coolant out of the engine and into the radiator and cycles new cool coolant into the engine itself. This cycle carries on until all of the coolant in the cycle is the same operating temperature.
The water pump does exactly what its name implies. Its only purpose is to pump the available coolant through the entire loop of the system.
The heater matrix or heater core as it is also known is normally located behind the dashboard of the vehicle. It is a smaller version of a radiator with a centrifugal fan blowing over the fins of it. When you adjust your climate control dials or buttons to provide heat in the passenger compartment it opens a series of doors behind the dashboard to direct the airflow to the intended target area.
Those are the major components of a properly operating cooling system. When everything is working as it should your cooling system behaves normally and your engine runs …
Changing a Flat Tire While Wearing a Skirt
You’ve spent all morning getting ready, but now that you’re on your way to your presentation, you start hearing a thumping sound. Is that your tire, or the road? You pull over and sure enough, your tire’s flat.
Where you’re at you can’t get a cell signal. You can’t get a hold of your Utah auto repair company or anyone else. Besides that, you don’t have time to wait for someone to drive all the way out to get to you.
This article will help talk you step by step through what to do in such circumstances. And that’s simple: change your tire, and then take it to your Utah auto repair company to patch it back up. Not to worry; it really isn’t that hard, but it is dirty.
Getting your clothes dirty is probably the second highest fear of changing a tire, next to not knowing how to do it in the first place. I highly recommend that you buy yourself a pair of coveralls, disposable gloves, and some paper towels. Keep these in your vehicle at all times so you don’t have to worry about ruining your clothes.
First of all, move your car to a flat spot off to the side of the road. After zipping up your coveralls, grab your spare tire, jack, and lug nut wrench. Check your owner’s manual for correct placement of your jack.
Lift the jack until it just touches the car. If you have wheel covers, pull those off first. Using a screwdriver to pry them off is the easiest way. Loosen the lug nuts, but do not take them all the way off.
Next, use the jack to lift vehicle until the wheel is off the ground. Now you can finish taking the lug nuts off the wheel. Roll up your sleeves (if you’re not wearing coveralls), and take the tire off.
Grab the donut (the spare) and put it on. Screw the lug nuts in a few turns by hand, then use the wrench; but don’t tighten them all the way until you lower the vehicle. Lower the vehicle and finish screwing on the lug nuts. Double check the lug nuts to make sure they are tight. Now you’re ready to go get your tire repaired at your Utah auto repair.…