Weather conditions during the harsh winter season make traveling by car a nightmare for drivers. However, this is not all that the drivers have to brace themselves for. There is another hazard in the waiting for drivers who traverse through areas that have witnessed heavy snowfalls. With the weather beginning to thaw and the ice and snow beginning to melt slowly, the roads are laden with potholes that can cause damage to the car.
What comes as a surprise of many drivers is the fact that car damage caused due to these potholes is not covered by many auto insurance policies since it is not mentioned in the list of state specified minimum requirements. Hence, unless a person has specifically requested for this insurance, the insurance providers will not cover for these damages. The only type of policy that covers pothole damage is the collision coverage from certain auto insurance providers. However, it is unlikely that a lot of drivers will have this since it is not mandatory as per the state laws.
There can be a number of damages that may be caused after hitting a pothole. One of the most common problems faced by many drivers is damage to the entire suspension system of the car. If the pothole is not deep then this problem may not arise, however, if the depth of the pothole is more, then brace yourself to get the suspension system replaced. Replacing the entire suspension system is by no means affordable. The cost of replacing this can set you back by a significant amount of money and hamper your monthly budget.
There are also chances that the driver may lose control of the car after encountering a pothole and collide with another car or vehicle that is coming straight ahead. In such cases, though, you can expect financial assistance from your auto insurance provider if you have collision coverage. In addition to claiming money to cover the damages to your car, the property liability coverage under collision coverage would be able to cover the cost of the damage caused to another car or property.
In order to overcome such problems, it is recommended that drivers review their auto insurance coverage during the onset of winter so they can be fully prepared for all the eventualities. Overlooking this fact can prove to be a costly affair in the long run.
