Plenty of people love modifying their vehicles to make them unique and more in tune with their needs. Adding certain accessories may only improve aesthetics while others can cause dramatic changes for the way the vehicle performs.

When making modifications, it’s important to understand how they can affect accident liability. Insurance for luxury car accidents involving trucks may likely increase in these scenarios, however, not every modification can cause an issue. 

Modifications That May Increase Your Liability in a Car Accident

Any modification made to the way your vehicle handles or its safety features may pose more problems for you after a car accident. These changes tend to increase your percentage of liability:

Modified Suspension

When you lower or lift a vehicle to alter the suspension, it can completely change its stability and the way it handles the road. With lowered vehicles, you have less ground clearance, increasing your chances for damaging the undercarriage. Conversely, a lifted vehicle changes the center of gravity, making rollovers a greater threat. 

Modified Engines

If you want to enhance your engine performance, it is vital to consider upgrading other critical systems to keep things in balance. When you modify your engine, brakes and tires may lack control and require longer stopping distance. This puts you and everyone else on the road in danger of accidents.

Modified Tires and Wheels

Larger or wider tires may look cool, but they can strain your suspension and steering. This ultimately leads to premature wear and increases the chances of a critical failure. Using non-standard tire sizes may also impact the accuracy of the odometer and speedometer.

Modified Lighting

Aftermarket headlights and underbody lights are another popular modification people like to make to their vehicles. However, these should be carefully considered as they can impede vision for other drivers if they are too bright, leading to increased accident risks.

Are There Any Car Modifications That Won’t Impact Accident Liability?

While it’s important to know that aftermarket modifications can increase your accident liability, there are some you can safely make without fear of raising your fault risk in accidents. For example, if you make purely cosmetic modifications such as a new paint job, adding decals, or any non-structural bodywork, you should be in the clear.

Any interior upgrades such as new sound systems or upholstery won’t impact the safety or performance of your vehicle, and should not increase liability. Additionally, if you decide to upgrade your tires to a better quality but keep them at the same size as recommended by the factory or have approved aftermarket modifications for brakes installed by a professional, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

How Do Insurers Use Vehicle Modifications Against Drivers in Accidents?

When you add aftermarket enhancements to your vehicle, it is important that you understand it not only increases your accident risk but also your liability in any car accident.

Coverage and Claims

If you plan to make any modifications or you already have, you must disclose it to your insurer. Failing to report these changes may cause the insurance company to void your policy. Additionally, if you are in a car accident, they may deny your claim if you did not tell them about your modifications. You should also be prepared that the other driver’s insurance company may blame you for causing the crash due to modifications you’ve made to your car. 

Compliance with Laws

Before you make any changes to the way your vehicle performs, you should make sure that what you have planned is in compliance with state, local, and federal regulations. If you get into an accident and you are not in compliance, this could mean you are blamed for the crash. 

Illegal modifications or those that fail to uphold safety standards could additionally mean you’ll need to pay fines for this infraction. In court, the judge or jury may look at your noncompliance in modifications and feel it was a significant contributor to the accident, making you the at-fault party. 

Higher Scrutiny from Law Enforcement

Even though Florida is a no-fault state, when police officers respond to the scene of a car crash, they often issue their best determination of fault in the accident. When you have a heavily modified vehicle, you’ll be more likely to be blamed if the changes you’ve made can impact the way the car handles or performs, or limits visibility for you or other drivers on the road. 

Issues with Product Liability

Any modification that involves aftermarket parts could have a greater risk of installing something defective from the start. There is also the chance for improper installation. Complex legal scenarios often arise with product liability, and you may need to prepare for a lengthy case if the manufacturer or installer contributed to your accident in some way.

Voided Warranties

Anyone considering modifying their vehicle should carefully review the details of their manufacturer warranties. Some specify that making these changes to any vehicle systems that affect performance or safety will void the warranty. In other words, if you get into an accident that is determined to have been caused by a component that the warranty would have covered but you modified it, you likely won’t be able to hold them accountable.

What to Do If You’re Being Blamed for Your Accident in a Modified Car

As mentioned, many modifications made to vehicles can impact their performance, handling, and safety features. However, not every change you make to customize your car should be seen as a liability.

Insurance companies are notorious for looking for ways to deny injury claims or minimize payouts to keep their profits soaring. If you did not cause the accident, you shouldn’t be blamed simply because you opted to customize your car. Appearances can often make people jump to conclusions, and when it comes to the vehicle you’ve modified, it may impact your liability.

Rather than face the insurance company on your own, it is best to consult with a car accident attorney who is familiar with local, state, and federal regulations on modifications. 

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