What to Do When It Starts Hailing While Driving
September 7th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Hail is dangerous, and it can quickly transform a safe road trip into a hazardous journey. If you know what to do with your car when it hails, you can minimize risk for yourself and others during a hail storm.
How to Drive in Hail
The combination of freezing temperatures, strong updrafts, and falling precipitation can cause hail. Meanwhile, hailstones can break your car’s windows and cause significant body damage. If you exit your car during a hail storm, you may inadvertently put your health in danger, too.
Driving in hail is difficult, so you should avoid it at all costs. If you notice hail begins to fall while you’re driving, here’s what you need to do:
1. Stop Driving
Pull your car to a safe spot on the side of the road. Travel slowly and cautiously to the side of the road and ensure your car is out of traffic lanes. If possible, move your car under an overpass or any other covered parking spot to further reduce the risk of hail damage to your vehicle.
2. Stay in Your Car
Remain in your car with the windows and doors closed until the hail storm passes. If you can, lie down in your car, with your face away from your vehicle’s windows. Hail breaking windows is a major problem during hail storms. But, with your face away from your car’s windows, you can lower your risk of injuries caused by hailstones striking and breaking the windows.
3. Address Hail Damage Immediately
Don’t wait to repair any car damage that occurs during a hail storm. A typical hail storm lasts only about 5 to 10 minutes, but the damage it can cause to your car can be severe. By addressing car damage immediately after a hail storm, you can ensure that your vehicle can be fixed without delay.
What to Do If Your Car Is Struck by Hail
If your car has been struck by hailstones, the damage may be extensive. Thus, if your car does not function properly after a hail storm or you do not believe it is safe to drive at this time, call a tow company and have your vehicle taken to a certified automotive repair shop.
You should contact your insurance company to let it know about any hail damage to your car, too. It may also be helpful to capture photos of the car damage to send to your insurance company.
Tips to Avoid or Limit Hail Damage to Your Car
There are several things you can do to avoid or limit the risk of hail damage to your car, such as:
1. Monitor the Weather
Keep an eye on the weather forecast. If there is a risk of hail or other inclement weather conditions, avoid driving during these periods.
2. Keep Your Car in a Covered Parking Spot
Park your car in a garage or carport. If a garage or carport is unavailable, you can purchase a car cover; this cover can help reduce hail damage but is less effective than keeping your car in a covered parking spot.
3. Place a Blanket or Floor Mat Over Your Car
Cover your car with a blanket or floor mat. In a hail storm, a blanket or floor mat can help minimize damage from hailstones.
If your car has been damaged by hail, the team at Fix Auto Valley can help. Our certified auto body technicians can repair car bumpers, fenders, windshields, and other exterior components on all types of vehicles. To learn more or to schedule a service appointment, please contact us online or call us today at (907) 707-0333.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Valley, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing Palmer, Wasilla, and the surrounding area.
