Potholes seem to plague streets while delivering a heavy toll on your car. With a simple bump, your vehicle can be exposed to suspension and steering damage that be expensive to fix. In this article, we will go over the different types of extensive damage potholes causes and what to do if you notice any suspecting damage.
What Type of Damage Can Potholes Cause?
While driving, it’s important for drivers to make sure they slow down while approaching potholes rather than braking sharply on top of them. This way, you can protect the durability of your brakes and tires while driving. However, this will not stop the entirety of damage to your vehicle while driving over potholes. Get annual checks on your vehicle to find any damage potholes may have done to your car. Damage may include low tire pressure, dented tire rims, and less control of your car.
Signs of Pothole Damage
1. Bent Rims: One of the biggest parts of your car that can get affected when running over a pothole are your tire rims. Not to mention, older cars tend to have less distance to their rims since they are made of steel, rather than newer cars who have a majority of aluminum-based rims. Nevertheless, it’s important to regularly inspect your car rims to identify any further damage caused by potholes.
2. Low Pressure: While driving, it’s vital that you keep a safe amount or pressure in your tire to avoid extensive damage to your vehicle. While you run over a pothole, your tires could bulge and release air that can cause trouble to your steering and ruin your tire rims. It’s best to regularly monitor your tires and make sure there are no bubbles or blisters on the sides of your wheels that may require repairs in the future.
3. Undercarriage Damage: While driving over a pothole, many drivers underestimate how much damage it can cause to the undercarriage of their vehicle. However, if you shoot a quick glance it may not look like much to you, but to an automotive technician, there may be more complex issues at play. If you notice anything off with your car, bring it down to your local garage and see if your mechanic notices anything further that may have relation to potholes you may have run over.
4. Steering is Out of Line: Naturally, if your car starts pulling off to one side there is clearly something wrong. That wrong thing may be that your car alignment is off. This can easily be fixed at your local garage, which needs to be quickly fixed or you risk the overall lifespan of your car and its parts.
5. Unusual Noises: It’s never a good sign if your car is making loud, unwanted noises. The best thing to do is visit your local car mechanic and see what the source of the problem is. When running over a pothole, it can cause your car to develop loud noises that can further lead to other parts breaking down in your car that you will need to have repaired.
6. Lack of Control: Slightly similar to your alignment being off, if you notice a lack of control your suspension and shock absorbers might be damaged. Since your suspension and shock absorbers job is to keep your car from giving you a bumpy ride, this is an obvious problem that needs to be fixed immediately. The longer your suspension system remains unfixed, the less control you will have when driving which can endanger your life and anyone driving near you.
What to Do If There is Pothole Damage
If you do notice that your car has been damaged by a pothole, there are a few steps you should take.
1. Take Notes
When you need to recount your story, it is important not to just rely on memory, which can be unreliable. Take note of the date and time of the incident. Write down the exact location of the pothole and take pictures of it. Try to place something in the photo that can be used as a reference of the size. If anybody witnessed the accident, write down their contact information as well.
2. Report the Pothole to the Town
Whether or not you decide to make a claim is up to you, but you should report the pothole to the city or town officials. This way they can make arrangements to get it filled so no more damage can be caused. Do some research online to find out exactly who you should contact about this and whether the road is managed by the city or state. You may even be able to get some reimbursement for your damages.
3. Contact Your Insurance Provider
Pothole damage can be filed as an at-fault accident. It is considered a single car collision, so your collision coverage will take care of it. It may be a good idea to determine how much your repairs will cost as it may be lower than your insurance deductible cost.
4. Get Your Car Repaired
If you do not have a trusted mechanic, it is a good idea to get multiple quotes for the damage. This way you can be sure that you are getting the best price.
Tips to Avoid Pothole Damage Before it Happens
– Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper air pressure. This is the best buffer between your car and uneven pavement.
– Drive slowly. This will improve your reaction time so you can avoid the pothole before you hit it. Also, driving slower over potholes limits any damage that might occur.
– Leave space between your car and the one in front of you. This will make it easier for you to see any potholes and avoid them.
– Be careful after it rains. If a pothole is full of water, it becomes more difficult to see and determine how deep they are.
