The winter storm that hit Texas left many devastated. Many of the residents were left without water or electricity for a few days. This is because of the harsh winter storm that left an unparalleled amount of snow and ice dumped in the whole region. Residents had to look for other alternatives to be able to sustain themselves.

Due to the many unprecedented conditions, the state’s energy grid could not cope and short-circuit. A sizable percentage of the residents had no power. Frozen pipes and stranded cars are some of the other many complications that the residents of Texas had to hurdle over.

The sheets of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures posed a great challenge to all road users. Most of the roads were treated with brine. It is a mixture of ice and salt. The brine washes away up to two inches of rain since the salt in the brine prevents the ice from bonding onto the road.

One of the unexpected things that followed the storm was rusty cars. In the long term, the brine did damage to the car owners. The sodium chloride and water in the brine caused a lot of rust in many residents’ vehicles.

If you did not wash the cars thoroughly during the storm, the deicing chemicals could cause damage and rust to the car. It damages the exhaust system brake lines and affects most vehicles’ fuel tanks. Those that happened to wash their cars saved themselves a lot of costly repairs down the line.

What to Do if Damage Occurs to Your Car

1. The first step would be to call the insurance company or agent with your policy number and other relevant information. You should do this as soon as possible and make sure you cooperate fully. Ask as many questions as you might have to be in a better position to take the next step.
2. Take footage of the damage incurred. This might act as evidence if the need arises.
3. If possible, make the necessary repairs needed to the vehicle to limit the damage already dealt. You should, however, not make any permanent repair until the insurance company has inspected the vehicle and you have reached an agreement on the cost of the repairs.
4. It is always crucial to save all the temporary repairs receipts made. You should save all the repairs whether they were covered by the insurance policy or not.

Importance of Car Insurance During Winter Storms

Pay Now and Save Later

The Insurance saves you from huge expenses that you might incur if a risk happens.

Protect Yourself and Others

The right insurance can help protect you, your family members, passengers, and other drivers. If an accident happens, you want to know you have the right coverage to take care of any property or bodily injury costs that may arise. Get a car insurance quote online or speak with an agent today to learn how you can help protect yourself and your family.

Save Time and Hassle

Good insurance can help you with the repair and replacements needed for your vehicle during this period. Once you make a claim, the insurance firm can help manage the entire process and support you.

You Will Have a Peace of Mind

With the right type of insurance, you can feel confident that you are protected if anything happens during harsh conditions.

Even during winter storms, there are some insurance policies that you should be aware of. This concerns your car and the damage done. Some of the policies include:

• If you happen to have a single-car accident in the ice or snow, it is still considered your fault. According to most insurance policies, you cannot blame the weather.
• In the occurrence of damage to your car or accident, you should document everything and file a claim quickly. The documentation would give your insurance firm clear communication of what happened and make the compensation process much quicker.
• If ice from another vehicle hits and damages your car, you do not need to chase the other driver. It is considered an act of nature and will fall under comprehensive damage in the insurance policy.
• If a tree also happens to fall onto your car during severe weather, it is also considered comprehensive damage.

Most of the policies stated are applicable unless stated otherwise in the policy.

In case you experience another winter storm, you should:

1. Make sure you repair any damage dealt with your car: This can be anybody’s damage or paint scratches. Chips that expose the bare metal of your vehicle might lead to rust in the future.
2. Limit your driving during, before, and after the storm: This is especially the case after the deicing solutions have been applied on the road. Currently, they are at their highest concentrations and are more likely to do more damage to the vehicle.
3. Protect the windshield wipers: Leave them at raised positions when parked to prevent them from freezing onto the windshield. You should, however, never use the wiper to get rid of the snow ice or frost on the windshield. Instead, use an ice-scraper.
4. Constantly wash your car: You should pay more attention to the undercarriage. It will loosen, dissolve, and neutralize the deicing solutions.
5. If possible, give the whole car and the undercarriage one thorough last cleaning after the storm. Any deposits left behind from the winter can continue to cause corrosion to the car if not carefully removed.
6. Swap your regular tires for winter tires: They are more equipped for the conditions and would give your car better traction while turning or trying to stop on a cold pavement.
7. You can add a protective layer of wax to your vehicle: It would serve as a barrier against snow, sleet, grime, and road salt. You should couple this with high-pressure car washes after the winter storm. It rinses the build-up in difficult-to-reach areas like the underbody and the wheels.
8. When washing your car, make sure to use high-quality car wash solutions: They are more efficient now, and other household detergents strip away the wax from your vehicle.
9. It is always a clever idea to keep your tank half full during the winter storms: This is because you are more likely to get stuck in the snow during these conditions. If you are going on a long trip, look to plan on the gas stops in advance.