POTHOLES CAN PUT A DENT IN YOUR POCKETBOOK OR WALLET

How to Avoid Dips and Damage in Your Daily Drive

LEAWOOD, KS (February 28, 2014) –As the snow and ice melt, potholes are popping up in the pavement faster than the early spring flowers.  After one of the worst winters on record, potholes have become an epidemic in many cities around the country, causing drivers to dodge traffic while avoiding them or risk vehicle damage when they hit them.

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, which repairs thousands of vehicles from pothole-related incidents each spring,offers the following tips on avoiding potholes and repairing the pothole damage.

Drive Defensively to Avoid Damage

• Leave enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you — this allows you to see the oncoming pothole before striking it
• Be aware of other traffic or pedestrians on the roads before swerving to avoid a pothole
• Lower your speed on pothole filled roads. More damage can be incurred to a vehicle striking potholes at higher speeds, including compromised handling of the vehicle
• Don’t apply the brakes when driving over a pothole. This tilts the vehicle forward and places the amount of stress on the front suspension, which is the first part of the vehicle to strike the pothole

Don’t Let Pothole Damage Go – Get It Checked Out

• After you hit a pothole, pay attention to any vibration, handling issues or unusual noises
• The most common damage is a bent rim or hubcap, missing wheel weights and a tire out of round, which can be inspected and replaced by a body shop or tire specialist
• Damage to the front or rear suspension or struts can impact handling and safety – this requires immediate attention from a body shop
• Check fenders and wheel wells for body damage – particularly on vehicles with low clearance – and get these repaired before rust sets in

Evaluate Your Claim for Insurance

• A pothole damage claim is a single car accident, which is filed as an at-fault accident and a collision by insurance carriers, so consider your damage estimate and deductible before you file a claim
• Investigate if the local department of transportation pays for pothole damage – find out who owns the road, then check out the policy of that managing agency
• Take photos of the pothole and the resulting damage – immediately after it happens
• Note the date and time of the accident, and also note how long the pothole has been there if it is a road you travel frequently
• Get a repair estimate from a respected, certified body shop to submit with your claim

“Potholes may seem like a minor nuisance, until you hit one and have major damage,” said Dean Fisher, vice president of operations for CARSTAR.  “With some defensive driving – and a quick response to repair any damage – you’ll be able to protect you and your vehicle on the road.”

About CARSTAR

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities with more than 440 locations in 31 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR delivers national scale, consistently high-quality vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings; all repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee.  For more information visitwww.carstar.com.