Stratford Auto Repair

During the course of driving on a local road or highway lies a monster in waiting. What are we talking about? Those dreaded potholes. No matter where you live you are bound to hit one. Even a small pothole can damage your automobile, but those big ones are surely a menace. Should you check your vehicle afterward? You bet you should. What are you looking for? Here is a brief checklist.

Steering Troubles

You will notice this without getting out of the car. Has your steering suddenly become difficult? Does the car want to pull to one side or another? If yes, this is a dangerous sign that requires a professional mechanic to fix it. Other steering problems you could now have are unusual vibrations in the steering column that was not present before hitting the pothole.

Tire Problems

Potholes can wreak havoc on your tires. You must pull over to someplace safe like a parking lot to check them out. Look for bulges, cracks, or puncture marks on the sidewall of each tire. Even small ones must be tended to immediately. Not doing so can result in a blowout and a serious accident.

Can the Damage Be Extensive?

It sure can. You might experience cracks in the frame underneath your vehicle or bent rims on the wheels. The latter might not seem that serious. However, if left unattended, the consequences can be severe. Your best bet after you hit a particularly nasty pothole is to take the car to your mechanic for inspection. He or she could find new defects that your untrained eye might not catch.

Do You Have Any Recourse?

If you have a sudden expensive auto repair bill after hitting a bad pothole, you may be wondering if you can sue the city or town to recover your losses. In reality, there is no recourse. You can attempt it, but it may be futile. It is rare that a person wins in such a case.

Must You Have a Professional Check it Out?

You are really better off if you do. You will avoid a lot of unnecessary headaches by doing that. If you need an inspection performed after hitting a pothole, give our auto repair shop a call today!