Why It’s Important to Check Your Windshield Wipers

When weather conditions worsen and heavy rain begins to pour, one of the most important parts of any vehicle is the windshield wipers. These are instrumental in ensuring that you can see ahead of you and maintain your visibility in some of the worst weather conditions. Checking the windshield wipers regularly can help ensure that you have a way of potentially preventing accidents while on the road in difficult weather conditions.

Here are some things that you should do in order to ensure your windshield wiper blades are in good condition.

CHECK THE RUBBER PIECES

Windshield wipers consist of rubber pieces that should be all one smooth piece. There shouldn’t be any cracks or breaks. If this is the case, it won’t properly clean the window and you should replace it to help get the most effective results.

STREAKING OR FILMING

Rain falls and you go to use your windshield wipers. Instead of a nice, clear window, all you get is streaks making it even more difficult to see. This means your windshield wipers are not clean or they are breaking. If the windshield wipers are dirty, clean them adequately. If they are breaking, replace them.

LOUD SOUNDS WHEN CLEANING

If your windshield wipers go across your windshield and make a loud noise — almost dragging — they are most likely not working correctly. These sounds mean they’re not making the right contact with the window and are causing more problems than fixing the issue. Replace them as soon as you can.

BENT FRAMES

The part of the windshield wipers holding the rubber pieces is made of metal, but it’s not the most durable. Some situations can cause them to bend which would pull parts of the rubber away from the windshield. As a result, when you go to use the wipers, you may not be getting a consistent clean and you’ll notice certain areas are not being cleared of rain.

SEASON CHANGES

The proper maintenance calls for changing wipers prior to the seasons changing. If you wait until the middle of winter, it’ll be easy to wear down your wipers quickly. Changing them prior to the rain means a fresh start the rubber and metal frame.

At Hare Wynn, our auto accident lawyers understand that these types of situations often cause serious collisions, especially when the wipers are not increasing visibility. It can lead to a driver not seeing the vehicles in front of them and not braking in time to prevent a collision. If someone fails to maintain their vehicle and change their windshield wipers, it may be considered negligence if it causes harm to another individual. We’re here to help.

Contact our legal team today to discuss your potential lawsuit.