Springtime Hazards for Homeowners and Drivers – Make sure you’re ready!

April showers might bring May flowers but spring weather, in general, can bring about a whole new set of problems too. Many of them hitting you where it hurts most: your wallet.

Sure, while the weather is a lot nicer, warm spring temperatures help melt away any excess snow and reveal the damage caused by long and icy winters. Not to mention the floods and hail that typically come with the season.

Fortunately, if you’re aware of the common seasonal risks, you can plan accordingly and check to see if you’re covered.

Potholes

Potholes are holes in the pavement caused by the presence of water in the underlying soil structure. Water under the soil structure can weaken the pavement and, as cars and trucks pass over these weak spots, cause the material to become cracked or break down from the weight thus creating a hole. With spring showers to come, the probability of potholes grows. And while dodging them left and right is possible, it’s certainly not the safest way to drive. In addition, hitting potholes can result in the misalignment of your wheels and can affect your steering.

Flooding

What’s Spring without a little rain? Mix a couple of thunderstorms with any leftover melting snow and you’ve got yourself a recipe for flooding. Flooding can affect the structure of your home, your belongings, and even your family if not taken care of properly.

Hail

Springtime hail storms can do a lot of damage to both homes and cars. This damage, of course, depending on the size of the hail. Unfortunately, it’s never easy to tell what size will fall so it’s important to know if you’re covered. Hail can easily damage roof shingles and sidings, windows and more.

Ice Dams

When snow or rain falls, melts and refreezes on a roof, ice shingles can form a sort of dam that causes snowmelt or rainwater to back up. These backups can result in water leaking into your home and ruining your walls and other surfaces. Makes sure to check your roof to ensure you don’t have any dams.

Cracked Concrete

When facing a snowy winter, the use of salt or sand to melt away any snow is common. However, when the snow has melted away, you may find unsightly cracks in your driveway. While this is more of a wear-and-tear issue, if you’re one to worry about your curb appeal, this is a problem that you’ll likely face once it’s warmer out.

Spring brings a lot of great things: longer days, warmer weather, and lots of colors. A great break from a dreary and gray winter. However, if not prepared, the new season can also be a whole new headache. Call an Amigo Insurance agent today and learn how we can help make this spring and easy one.

Signed,
Amigo Insurance

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The Scoop on Potholes and How to Avoid Them

It is awfully difficult to traverse city roads without encountering a pothole. Sometimes, potholes can linger for years.

Potholes form as a result of uneven roads that cause the back ends of trucks to smack against the road. Potholes also form due to freezing and thawing that leads to cracking. When moisture reaches such cracks, they form potholes. Often, drivers see potholes and swerve into another lane without looking. This reaction might cause an accident and raise auto insurance rates.

Why Potholes are Such a Problem

Potholes are certainly unsightly. They often mar otherwise clean roads that are in solid condition.

Yet the most glaring problem posed by potholes is the damage they inflict on vehicles. Potholes have the potential to severely damage a vehicle’s wheels, tires and suspension. Let’s take a look at a few tips that will help drivers reduce the impact of potholes.

How Drivers can Avoid Potholes

The best way to avoid potholes is to use common sense.

  • Drive at a reasonable speed that is always at or below the posted speed limit. Such a safe speed will provide you with ample time to react if you spot a pothole. Do not tailgate.
  • Do not swerve into an adjacent lane to avoid the pothole. Changing lanes could cause an accident worse than any damage resulting from direct contact with the pothole.
  • If you have enough time to gauge traffic in an adjacent lane, do so. If you believe there is enough space to change lanes before hitting the pothole, go ahead and move over.

Minimize the Damage

In most instances, you will not have enough time to avoid potholes. Be especially aware at night when potholes are that much more difficult to see.

You may be able to reduce the damage of the impact by reducing your rate of speed. Take your foot off the brake after making contact with the pothole. This strategy helps your automobile absorb the impact. Be sure to approach the potholes with your vehicle’s wheels pointed straight ahead. Striking a pothole at an angle can worsen the damage.

It will also help to keep your vehicle in good working order. A well-maintained car stands better chance of emerging from a pothole without damage. Keep your vehicle’s tires inflated to the proper level. Make sure the steering and suspension are in tip-top shape. These preparations will help you avoid an accident that spikes your car insurance rate.

Do you need auto insurance? Let us help. Call Amigo Insurance Agency, Inc. at 877-999-2644 for a fast, free Chicago auto insurance quote.

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