Many car and truck enthusiasts enjoy modifying their vehicles to improve performance, appearance, fuel efficiency, or simply to add personal touches to a car or truck to better express their personality. While it’s understandable for car hobbyists to wish to add modifications, many modifications are illegal, typically made so because they pose a danger by increasing the chances of accidents or making motorists more vulnerable to injuries in accidents.
Illegal vehicle modifications also subject the vehicle owner to fines and civil liability. A car accident lawyer in Arlington can help you navigate any confusion or legal complexities.
What Types of Vehicle Modifications are Illegal?
When it comes to restrictions on vehicle modifications, there is no one-size-fits-all law prohibiting specific modifications. Instead, different jurisdictions within Washington have local ordinances in place illegalizing specific modifications within the region. Still, the most common modifications to avoid due to common illegality include the following:
- Changes to mufflers, such as bypasses or cutouts: these modifications break noise ordinances and endanger pedestrians by startling children or making it difficult for blind pedestrians to hear traffic signals
- Lift kits that raise the height of vehicles typically have height restrictions because high vehicles pose a danger to smaller cars in collisions, and are more prone to tipping or rolling over.
- Low-riding and hydraulics: many local ordinances restrict low-riding modifications because they bottom out, causing loss of control, scrape against roads and speed bumps, causing damage, and also cause tire damage from scraping, which can result in accidents
- Adding wide or otherwise altered tires, which can cause instability and increase the chances of an accident
- Excessively dark-tinted windows, which reduce visibility
- Performance chips or engine runners, which may disable critical factory safety features
- After-market, extra-bright, or incorrectly aimed headlights may cause a head-on collision
- “Rolling coal” refers to the practice of intentionally altering a diesel truck engine’s emissions system to cause it to emit clouds of black smoke, commonly used in protests or to attract attention
Before making any modifications to a vehicle, it’s important to consider the safety implications of the modification and consult your local laws to determine whether or not your region prohibits your planned modification. Washington is listed as one of the top ten states with the nation’s strictest vehicle modification laws.
What Happens When a Modified Vehicle Causes an Accident In Washington?
Prohibited vehicle modifications are not illegal only to stifle individuality. Instead, Washington jurisdictions restrict modification due to the hazards they present to modified vehicle owners and others on the road. When a modified vehicle causes an accident, the at-fault party is liable for damages. Common damages in Washington car accident claims include past and future medical expenses, past and future income loss, out-of-pocket expenses, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Unfortunately, insurance companies often invalidate policies when they discover that a policyholder has modified their vehicle, particularly if the modification was not disclosed to the insurance company.
An accident involving a modified vehicle may cause serious injuries to other motorists in collisions, leading to extensive economic and non-economic damages as well as property damage. Obtaining compensation for injury-related damages can be challenging in a claim against a negligent driver with a modified vehicle, often requiring an Arlington personal injury attorney with experience in this area. Contact us today.