Summer is a wonderful time to spend time with family, but August starts back to school planning. Before school starts back up, you may want to take the family on a trip to bond and share new experiences together.
If you plan a trip in a recreational vehicle (RV), it is important to take time to perform maintenance and complete a safety check before leaving. The last thing you want on a family trip is for the RV to break down or cause an accident because of malfunctions or poor maintenance.
What do you need to do to make sure your RV is in good condition?
The first step is to inspect belts and hoses. These are vital components that need to be in perfect condition. No cracks should show on plastic or leather, and hoses with holes or cracks must be replaced.
Lights are another way to prevent accidents, make sure headlights, taillights and turn signals are functioning. If they do not, you could cause an accident by another driver not seeing that you plan to make a turn or move into another lane.
A RV should always be equipped with a fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers do expire and the best option is a fire extinguisher good for any type of flame.
Finally, always secure items in your RV while traveling. If items move around while driving, it can become a hazard. In the event of a crash, the items become projectiles potentially furthering injuries.
If you are struck by another party’s RV because they failed to do these simple things, it’s within your rights to pursue a claim.
The Merdes Law Office has helped injured Alaskans for more than 30 years, it’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
Source: Geico, “Recreational Vehicle (RV) Safety“
