More drivers in Pennsylvania are holding onto their older vehicles, and this is for a good reason. Many drivers do not have the income to purchase a new car, and cars can last for some 15 years and 300,000 miles. With an older car, though, owners are more likely to neglect even routine maintenance. This means that older vehicles on the roads today likely have defective equipment in them.
Auto accidents involving defective equipment will only become more common as the average age of vehicles on the road goes up. The Ohio Insurance Institute has noticed such an increase in the average age. It went from 9.6 years in 2002 to 11.8 years in 2020.
The Ohio Highway Patrol looked at defect-related crashes that occurred in the state in the past three years and discovered that 56% of crashes were due to vehicles made between 1999 and 2008. Model year 2009-2018 vehicles were behind 24% of the crashes. The most common factors in these crashes were tire blowouts and brake failure. The former was responsible for 42% of fatal defect-related accidents.
Experts encourage car owners to fix issues whenever they crop up in spite of the high upfront cost. For newer vehicles with their sensors and other electronics, the cost of repairs is definitely higher.
The lack of maintenance can be included as a factor in car accidents and become the subject of personal injury claims. As for victims who are thinking about filing such a claim, they should know that this state allows it only the case of those whose losses are not covered by personal injury protection. To see if they qualify and how much they might be eligible for, victims may consult a lawyer. The lawyer may handle all negotiations for them.
