Dealing with Potholes

Potholes big and small can be found anywhere and are considered a nuisance. Chances are you’ve come across them before, and as you know, they can make for an uncomfortable and bumpy ride.  Potholes have the potential to cause serious damage to your vehicle, with some potholes having as much impact as a car crash at 35mph. Structural damage can be caused by potholes as well as damage to your tires.  Alignment problems may also happen which leads to uneven wear on your tires. If your tires are underinflated, potholes may cause them to blow out, potentially leading to an accident.

The freezing and thawing of water under the pavement are the cause of many potholes. This process weakens the road and causes large-sized cracks. With the weight of vehicles continuously driving over, these cracks eventually turn into potholes. Areas with severe winter weather are more prone to potholes.

Here are a few tips that may help you navigate pothole-filled roads:
If there is a vehicle in front of you, leave plenty of room between you both so you can avoid the pothole without getting involved in an accident. If there is a pothole you can’t avoid, slow down before hitting it but do not brake directly over it, as this can cause even more damage.

When you drive over the pothole, firmly hold the steering wheel to prevent yourself from losing control.  Use extra caution when driving over a puddle of water because it might actually be a pothole in disguise. If you usually take routes with pothole roads, you need to watch out for symptoms of pothole damage. Here are some symptoms to watch out for: Your car is pulling to the left or right instead of going straight or has uneven tire wear- both can be signs of an alignment problem, blisters or bulges on the sidewalls of the tire, dents in the wheel rims, low tire pressure, swaying when making turns, excessive bouncing on rougher roads, bottoming out on city streets. These could indicate a suspension or steering problem. If you notice any problems, take your vehicle to a car shop for inspection.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.