Potholes Can Put a Dent in Your Pocketbook or Wallet

Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting
Published: February 15th, 2019

How To Avoid Dips And Damage In Your Daily Drive

February 15, 2019 // Franchising.com // CHARLOTTE - As the snow and ice melt, potholes are popping up in the pavement faster than the early spring flowers. After a long winter, 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.

Maaco Auto Painting and Collision Repair, 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 Jason Ryan, President of Maaco Auto Painting and Collision Repair. "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 Maaco

Maaco Auto Painting & Collision Repair - a part of the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands based in Charlotte, NC - is America’s #1 Bodyshop. Maaco provides automotive paint and cosmetic repair services for nearly 500,000 drivers annually. With more than 500 independently owned and operated franchises across the United States and Canada, Maaco has restored the safety and appearance of more than 20 million vehicles over 45 years. Maaco has been named a top automotive franchise numerous times by Entrepreneur Magazine in its Annual Franchise 500 ranking. In addition to other honors, Maaco has been included on Franchise Times’ list of Top 200 franchises. For more information about Maaco, visit www.Maaco.com. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit www.Maaco.com/franchise-opportunities.

Media Contact:

Deborah Robinson
President
Victory Management Group PR
312.505.4336
drobinson@vmg1.com

SOURCE Maaco