Be In The Know When Driving On Ice And Snow

Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center Gives You Secrets For Safe Travel in the Winter Months

Winter can produce some of the harshest driving conditions of the year. And, months between October and February lead the list for mishaps, car damages and injuries in the Maryville, Illinois area.

When the temperature range plunges and the snow increases, it is necessary for drivers to increase their attention to safety on the streets.  With the right preparation, some protective driving procedures and an eye on the weather report, vehicle operators can safeguard themselves and their cars during the long winter time.

The professionals on wintry driving incidents at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, IL fix thousands of vehicles each year damaged in wintry, icy calamities.  They offer drivers some helpful tips to help make cold weather driving more safe.

Take A Look At Your Field Of Vision:

•   Add de-icer to your windshield wiper liquid
•   Make fully sure your windshield wipers are devoid of ice before heading out on the road – and start thinking about upgrading with new flexible windshield wipers before the snow strikes
•   Check that all the mirrors are clear and appropriately tweaked for visibility
•   Wash your car headlights and check the bulbs in all your motor vehicle lights – front and rear

Slow Down and Stay Back:

•   When there is snow or ice on the surface in Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, or Highland, Illinois, lower the speed of your vehicle to a safe limit
•   Have a lot more distance between your ride and the car or truck ahead of you for additional safety
•   Stay away from cruise control on icy streets
•   Use careful attention on bridgework, overpasses, and hardly ever traveled freeways because these could possibly be slippery as a result of ice
•   Use extra caution when you are driving on one-lane freeways

Skidding Smartly

In a situation where your back wheels slip...

•   Bring your foot off of the gas
•   Steer in the direction you want the forward wheels to go. If the rear wheels are moving left, steer left. If they're slipping right, steer right
•   If your back tires begin moving the other way when you recuperate, ease the steering wheel to that side. You might have to steer left and right once or twice to truly get your car or truck really under control
•   For standard brakes, pump them carefully
•   If you have got anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply regular force to the brakes. You might feel the brakes pulse — that is routine

Should your front tires skid...

•   Bring your foot off the gas and go to neutral, but don't try to steer right away.
•   As the tires skid sideways, they'll slow the car or truck and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you wish to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and speed up slowly

Prepare for a Snow Day:

•   If your motor vehicle has rear wheel drive, put bags of sand or kitty litter to keep your car or truck simpler to control on Maryville, Illinois streets
•   Pack a snow day kit in case you get stuck.  Valuable items to include are a blanket, gloves, hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and spare batteries, extra cellular phone battery, flares, wooden matches in water-resistant carrier, compass, a pair of scissors, rope and first-aid gear.
•   Make a tool kit for digging your vehicle out with foldable spade, 2x4 planks to put under tires, ice scraper and snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and exterior windshield cleaner

You can't ever be too careful when getting behind the wheel in winter weather. Accidents can take place rapidly on slick, icy streets, so going slower and making the extra safety measures can seriously make the difference.

If the adverse winter accident does take place, we encourage having a wreck strategy in position so you aren’t stuck on the wayside waiting for assistance.  Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois features good, dependable repair service.  Simply call 1-800-CARSTAR once you have an accident and they will send the tow truck, speak to your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and fix your car.

Top Ten FAQ - Part One

Maybe you have a query about your car or truck and the repair process? Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center of Maryville, IL has stated the common enquiries just below. If you ever don’t see the answer below, give us a call and we will provide you with the info you will need.

1.   What to Do in Case of an Accident

2.   Your Consumer Rights

3.   How to Choose a Body Shop

4.   About the Repair Process

5.   Understanding Your Estimate

1. What to Do in Case of an Accident

First, remain relaxed. If there is personal injuries, call 911 as soon as possible. Never move your motor vehicle, unless you're in immediate risk and it would be advisable to get your vehicle in a separate location. You need to get the name of the individual (s) driving the other vehicle (s) involved with their telephone number, driver's license, vehicle license and insurance details. Be sure to obtain any witness' name and number (s). Keep in mind the place, time and day. Make use of a camera cell phone to take photos of the incident, motor vehicle damage and witnesses.

2. Your Consumer Rights

After you have a major accident, you will have the right to decide where you want your car brought and the place you opt to have your vehicle fixed. A high-quality accident repair center will coordinate towing for you, do top-quality repairs and deal with your insurance corporation. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center promises a limited five-year nationwide warranty as an extra benefit.

3. How to Choose a Body Shop

You will want to select an automobile body shop in Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, or Highland, Illinois that offers a full written estimate, practices a well designed repair process for each automobile and includes skilled, certified repair professionals. A national affiliation usually demonstrates top quality repair standards, along with a nationwide guarantee. Locate a body shop that uses the highest-quality components and products to revive your vehicle, who will help you be well-informed through the entire repair process, supplies extremely good customer service, can deliver your ride punctually, and conducts an extensive check up of all repairs before putting you straight back on the highway.

4. About the Repair Process

The repair process starts with you taking your motor vehicle in for a quote with a experienced estimator. If you select that shop, they're going to deal with your insurance agent to process the repair claim. A very good auto body shop like Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center will conduct a complete disassembly of all harmed parts of the automobile to check out any structural or mechanical harm. They will order the necessary parts for your vehicle and then finish the task. Once the repair is finished, they will make an in-depth overview of the inside and exterior of the automobile to make certain of a high quality repair.

5. Understanding Your Estimate

Your estimate ought to include a thorough examination of the procedure to be done on your ride, a description of the repair parts to get used, what things your insurance policies will and will not encapsulate and the expected amount of the repair. One reason estimates in Maryville, Illinois could differ from a different shop is thoroughness of the appraisal process. Some quotes could leave imperative repairs out of the initial estimate, inducing the amount to not be the same from another facility. At Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center we will be exhaustive to determine the steps necessary for a high-quality and safe repair for your car or truck.

Ten Tips for Dealing with an Auto Accident

One time every 7 years, the ordinary driver from Maryville, Illinois is tangled up in an vechicle accident.  When that happens, it is smart to know what you should do to safeguard yourself and your car, and get yourself on the road to a quick, top-notch repair.  Here's a few guidelines to be mindful of and show to the drivers in your family from your friends at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois:

1.   Power down your vehicle’s engine and let it sit where it is provided that you feel it is safe. If you are endangered or your motor vehicle is in peril of being run into by yet another automobile, carefully travel to a safer place, like the side of the road or a well lit parking lot.

2.   Remain relaxed.  Be tactful and respectful, even if you are upset.

3.   Measure the degree of impact and decide whether you are actually wounded. If you believe you’re seriously injured in any way, stay in your vehicle and make an attempt to calm down. Be honest if somebody asks how you are. Ask somebody to call for assistance, and let a trained specialist evaluate your condition.

4.   Extend medical advice to individuals on condition that you are educated to do so.

5.   Study the damages to your motor vehicle. When looking at the crash scene, never ever travel right between the 2 automobiles. If one is slammed yet again, you could potentially turn out to be confined amidst the 2 vehicles.

6.   Call up police officers of Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, or Highland, Illinois to document the car accident. Dial 911 first, if that does not do the job, dial zero and request for the cops.

7.   Never say the collision was your responsibility, although you may believe that it was.

8.   Call 1-800-CARSTAR to have someone from Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center ask for a tow, arrange for a rental car, contact a relative and contact your insurance professional .

9.   Obtain the names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses.  If you can’t get their names, at minimum obtain their license plate numbers.

10.   Swap names, addresses, driver's license numbers and insurance plan facts with any other drivers mixed up in the automobile accident.

It’s smart to get an accident plan in position before an vehicle accident takes place.  Find a highly regarded auto body shop to take your car in advance so you’re not really required to have a unanticipated decision at the accident scene.  To discover the number one collision repair facility in the neighborhood, search for the CARSTAR logo.  All CARSTAR auto body repair shops like Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center are locally owned and operated, and are serious about offering you the highest-quality repair and getting you straight back on the road quickly.

For more Maryville car care tips, visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com.

Bucks Cost Bucks, Does Cost Dough

North America’s Collision Repair Experts Weigh in on the Hefty Costs of Hitting a Deer 

It’s the yearly battle of the bumpers versus the bucks, the does up against the doors.  All sides lose whenever car and deer collide, but a measure of defensive driving can reduce the risks.

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts in the St. Louis area say the regularity and extent of deer-related accidents are increasing as quickly as the deer population in some markets. And, with the cold-weather months providing peak season for deer-vehicle crashes, this risk is rising.

Believe it or not, over forty percent of CARSTAR store owners record a twenty-five percent boost in deer-related accidents, while some nearly 12 percent report a 50 percent increase and five percent have noticed a fantastic seventy-five percent increase in their areas. That deer-related automobile accident might be pricy -- close to seventy percent of CARSTAR store owners assess that the average cost of a deer-related crash repair is anywhere between $2,500 and $4,999, while some 5% of repairs are anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000.

A recent survey by State Farm verifies the trend.  U.S. drivers are 3 % more prone to hit a deer in the next 12 months as opposed to last year, specifically in October, November and December. The cost is on the rise, at the same time, and is anticipated to be about 14 percent greater than this past year.

A brand new trend is emerging, and one that does not bode well for person or deer – the serial deer crash driver.  As soon as a driver has been around a deer-related crash, his or her chances of suffering from another one are going up.  A number of these car owners reside in deer-filled areas, drive in the early morning or early evening when deer are out, or just really are unlucky with bucks.

Greg Walter, a suburban Atlanta resident, is simply one example.  He’s experienced seventeen deer-related accidents during the last decade!

“I’m uncertain of why they concentrate on my car, but they sure do,” mentioned Walter.  “I’ve totaled multiple company cars, and it’s gotten so bad that a few of my co-workers put deer heads on my car door much like a WWII fighter pilot.  I’ve used different headlights, deer whistles, anything.  I think I just have to have a retainer at my local CARSTAR shop.”

Drive Defensively to Prevent Deer Dangers

This current year, some 1.5 million vehicle operators will hit deer, and November is the peak month for deer-related collisions in Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, and Highland, Illinois.  But drivers can stay away from a crash with a deer by sticking to some smart driving guidelines this fall and winter.

Early morning and dusk are the worst times for deer accidents, as visibility is restricted and deer are frequently on the move. You will need to drive defensively and anticipate the possibility of deer in the roadway.

The auto masters at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center, who repair a huge number of automobiles every year from deer-related accidents, provide the tips below to slow up the deer danger:

1.    Use extra caution at daybreak and dusk and near golf courses, fields and wooded areas.

2.    Understand that deer go in packs – if you find one, there is probably more behind it.

3.    Don't swerve to prevent yourself from hammering a deer, since that boosts the likelihood of hitting another motor vehicle or losing command over the vehicle.

4.    If you experience no opposing traffic, utilize high beams during the night to better illuminate deer.

5.    Try not to rely on devices such as deer whistles, that are coupled to the exterior of a automobile, to try and scare off deer with an supersonic or high frequency sound. They have not demonstrated to shorten deer-vehicle collisions.

6.    If a deer remains on the road once you strike it, record the occurrence to the game commission or a community law enforcement department, because deer poses a hazard to other people. If the deer continues to be living, do not get in the vicinity of it since a wild animal with sharp hooves is able to cause injuries.

7.    If a mishap with a deer does indeed take place, it is advantageous to be safe. Many vehicle operators never recognize that holding just collision coverage wouldn't cover harm from a deer accident, leaving them with a busted vehicle and a considerable repair bill.  To totally include any possible damage, vehicle operators should certainly carry detailed insurance that covers such collisions. For all driving an older vehicle who believe their motor vehicles are not worth the cost of the insurance, it’s intelligent to maintain an “accident fund” for if something does take place.

If a vehicle driver eventually ends up marooned with a busted car or truck after a deer collision, they may always call 1-800-CARSTAR. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center will send the tow truck, call their insurance provider and help the car or truck owner get back on the road.

Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois gives excellent, trusted repair service at more than 430 locations in 30 states and ten Canadian provinces. Just call 1-800-CARSTAR when you require a automobile repair, and they will dispatch the tow truck, speak to your insurer, plan for a car rental and fix your vehicle. To acquire more information and store locations, visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com.