Potholes are a normal sight in most drivers’ daily commute. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, you’re bound to eventually hit one. These road imperfections are not only unsightly but also seriously damaging to cars. Many drivers are forced to pay hundreds of dollars on average for auto body repairs due to pothole accidents–a situation you’d never want to be in.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how pothole accidents can damage your car and what you can do to minimize the damage.
Auto Body Damage Caused by Potholes
Vehicles that are low to the ground, like sports and performance cars, are more at risk of experiencing auto body damage from potholes. Bumpers that are lower than the standard placement can get scraped against pothole craters. In general, cars can also be scratched and dented easily.
Although this type of damage will not necessarily affect the performance or safety of your car, it can result in extremely high cosmetic repair bills, or else decrease your vehicle’s value. For owners of low, sporty cars, it’s recommended to use its sharp handling to safely avoid potholes on the road.
Furthermore, hitting a pothole can ruin your car tires and throw the wheels off their alignment. If you are traveling fast and the pothole is deep, the impact could even bend the axle, wreck the shocks, break the muffler, destroy the bumper, or cause the frame to warp. With enough force, your vehicle’s airbags might even be deployed.
Your car’s body can be affected by potholes, but the tires and wheels are the main sufferers of such accidents. Once the metal comes into contact with the broken pavement, you will likely have issues with your car’s overall performance.
Minimizing Damage
To mitigate the impact of potholes in your car, be sure to slow down as you approach one. The faster you drive when hitting one, the more damage it will cause to your car. Never brake as you hit a pothole because doing so will cause more problems to your auto body. Remember to also make sure your tires are inflated correctly, using the suggested pressure.
When there’s moderate to heavy traffic, leave a good amount of space between you and the driver in front. This gives you enough time to react and prepare to slow down in case there is a pothole previously hidden by the vehicle in front.
If there are puddles in the middle of the road, it’s usually a sign of potholes. Drive through these puddles with caution so you’ll stay safe from road cracks.
Conclusion
The good news is, most potholes are not too deep or large enough to pose a danger to your vehicle. As long as you have a properly aligned suspension and inflated tires, your car will likely just roll right through them.
But as seasons change and potholes increase, it’s important to always be alert when you hit the road. Try to avoid them as best as you can. If you don’t, you are putting yourself at risk of expensive auto body repair services.