Month: July 2018

What Is Hydroplaning and How To Avoid It

If you have ever lost control of your car, even slightly, on a wet road, it is possible you experienced hydroplaning. A skid can last a split second or can be catastrophic when the roads are wet. In order to protect yourself, it is important to understand what, exactly, hydroplaning is so that you can avoid it.

What is Hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning normally refers to sliding or skidding on a wet surface. Your tires are designed to scatter water as you travel on a wet road. When the tire encounters a larger amount of rain than it can scatter, you hydroplane. Pressure in front of the tires pushes water under it, causing the tire to leave the road way and ride on top of a thin film of water. This means your vehicle no longer has traction which can lead to a loss of steering, braking and control of your car.

When Does Hydroplaning Happen?

Anytime the road is wet, you can hydroplane. However, statistics show that hydroplaning is most common in the first ten minutes of a light rain. Light rain can mix with residue on the roads, like oils, which can cause cars to hydroplane. This is especially true if you are traveling at more than 35 miles per hour. Drivers tend to slow down during fog, ice, snow and heavy rain, but because light rain happens so often, drivers tend to travel at the same speeds they do on dry roads. Although heavy downpours and blinding snow can be dangerous, it is often the slippery conditions caused after a light rain that cause the most damage as drivers are not prepared for them.

Avoiding Hydroplaning

Although it is impossible to avoid hydroplaning at all times, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of hydroplaning. Be sure your tires are properly inflated and that the tread is in good condition. Slow down when the roads are wet, even if it was only a light rain. Avoid puddles and standing water which increase the chances of hydroplaning. Try to remain in the tracks of the cars in front of you as they indicate the area on the road where water is already displaced. Do not use cruise control on wet roads and drive in a lower gear if possible. Try not to brake hard or make sharp turns.

If you have been involved in an accident after hydroplaning, contact us by filling out the easy online form or give us a call to schedule an appointment.

What You Need To Know About New Jersey Car Insurance Laws

In New Jersey, all drivers are required to carry car insurance. There are several options available to you when you are shopping for your policy. Having a good insurance policy in place can offer you the protection that you need if you are involved in a car accident. At Elmer’s Auto Body, we have been helping Garden State residents with processing your insurance claims so that you can get your needed repairs completed on your vehicles.

Auto insurance requirements in New Jersey

Click here to download the State Of New Jersey’s Everything You Wanted To Know About Auto Insurance Brochure

Under the laws of New Jersey, all vehicles must have personal injury protection, liability and uninsured and underinsured motorists protection coverage in place. At a minimum, motorists who opt for the standard automobile insurance policies must have $15,000 bodily injury coverage and $30,000 maximum per accident. The minimum coverage for property damage liability in the state is $5,000. People must also carry a minimum of $15,000 in personal injury protection. The state also requires you to have a minimum of $15,000 per person of underinsured and uninsured motorists bodily injury coverage with $30,000 per accident. You must also have at least $5,000 worth of uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage for property damage. If you suffer very serious injuries, your policy may pay up to $250,000.

Standard Policy

The Standard policy option has a higher premium but offers more extensive coverage.

With the Standard policy, you get a minimum of:

$15,000 of bodily injury liability (BDL) insurance per person, per accident. This coverage will pay for injuries to anyone not in your car if you cause a car crash.
$30,000 of BDL for multiple injured people per accident.
$5,000 of PDL per accident.
$15,000 of PIP per person in a car accident.
Up to $250,000 of PIP for severe or permanent injuries.

Basic Policy

There is also a basic automobile policy available in the state, but it offers less coverage. With this policy, you will have coverage of $5,000 in property damage liability per accident. You will also have personal injury protection of $15,000 per person up to a maximum of $30,000 per accident. Finally, if you suffer very serious injuries in an accident, your basic coverage will pay up to $250,000.

The Basic policy option is the more affordable insurance package; however, it offers limited coverage, including:

$5,000 of property damage liability (PDL) per accident. This covers damage you may have caused to someone’s property in a car crash.
$15,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) per person, per accident. This coverage pays for injuries you suffer in a car crash.
Up to $250,000 for very severe injuries, such as permanent brain injuries.

NOTE: Bodily injury liability (BDL) coverage is not included in the Basic policy; however, policyholders are offered the option to purchase $10,000 of BDL coverage.

Limited tort vs. full tort

When you purchase your insurance coverage, you will have the option to choose either limited tort or full tort with the standard insurance policy. If you choose the full tort option, you will be able to file a lawsuit against a negligent party for the pain and suffering that you were caused in the accident. The limited tort option doesn’t allow you to sue the negligent party for pain and suffering unless your injury was especially severe or catastrophic.

Getting help with insurance claims

If your vehicle was damaged in an accident, you will need to have it repaired. It is important for you to understand your insurance policy. Elmer’s Auto Body is able to help you to file your claim with the insurance company so that you can get the repairs that you need. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

How To Find Your VIN Number

Your Vehicle Identification Number, most commonly known as the VIN, tells you a lot about your car. Each car’s VIN is unique, much like a social security number is for a person. Your VIN is actually not just a number. It is a combination of letters and numbers each that have something to do with your vehicle.

Components of Your VIN

Your VIN is not just a bunch of random letters and numbers thrown together like a serial number. Each section of the VIN has a specific meaning. The first three units identify the country in which the vehicle was assembled as well as who manufactured your vehicle. The second six units include information about the make and model. It also includes information about air bags, seat belts, parts used and the class of the car. The eighth digit normally represents the type of engine. The last eight units are what makes your car unique as it is different on every vehicle.

Importance of your VIN

Your VIN is one of the most important numbers on your vehicle. If there are safety recalls on your car, your VIN can identify if your car should be included. It can also help first responders gain some information about your car if you are involved in an accident and unable to communicate. If you are considering buying a used car, the VIN can be used to get a report on the car which would include accidents, service and other information. If your car is stolen, the VIN will be used to identify it should it be discovered as it is not unusual for thieves to remove license plates.

Where to Find the VIN

There are many different places to locate your VIN. Off your vehicle, you can check places like the title, registration card and insurance documents. Many body shops will include the VIN on repair records as well. You may find it in your owner’s manual and, if your car was ever in an accident or stolen, it will be on the police report. On the vehicle, the VIN is placed in several different locations. One of the reasons it is located throughout the car is to deter thieves from trying to remove the VIN in order to hide the fact it was stolen. Common places on the car to find the VIN include:

Inside of the driver’s side doorjamb near the side-view mirror
Lower-left corner of the dashboard in front of the steering wheel
On the front of the engine block
On the front end of the car frame near the windshield washer fluid container
On the inside of the driver’s side door near where the door latches
Rear wheel well directly above the tire
Underneath the spare tire

Once you have located your VIN, it is recommended that you record and store it somewhere away from your car. This will help if your car is ever stolen, you need to sell your car or you plan to register your car in a new state after moving. If you have more questions about the VIN, contact us today by phone or fill out the easy form online.

Aggressive Driving Increases Your Risk Of An Auto Accident

In 2016, a report published by AAA found that nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant aggression, anger or road rage while driving at least once in a year. The report also found that approximately 8 million drivers engaged in driving that demonstrated extreme road rage, such as getting out of the car to confront another driver or purposely tailgaiting. Aggressive driving can put you and your passengers at risk of an accident, yet it seems to be on the rise in the United States.

What Is Aggressive Driving?

Deliberately tailgaiting, speeding or cutting off vehicles are examples of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving is operating a motor vehicle in a manner that is unsafe and hostile without any regard for others who are on the road. Aggressive driving not only leads to accidents, it can also lead to road rage. This occurs when you use your vehicle to deliberately harm someone else. You may be guilty of aggressive driving if you hit the gas when a light turns yellow rather than slowing down or you ride the bumper of a vehicle moving slowly and pass even if it is risky. If you cut off last-minute mergers to “teach them a lesson” or blast the horn if a car in front of you does not move the second the light changes from red to green, you may be an aggressive driver.

How Common is Aggressive Driving?

According to the AAA report, aggressive driving is extremely common. Of those who responded to the study, 51 percent admitted they had purposefully tailgated while 47 percent admitted yelling at another driver. As many as 45 percent have honked to show they are annoyed or angry and 33 percent say they have used angry gestures. Over the past year, 24 percent said they tried to block another driver who was changing lanes, 12 percent purposely cut off a vehicle and 4 percent got out of their vehicle so that they could confront another driver. What was most alarming was that 3 percent of those who responded admitted to bumping or ramming another driver on purpose.

Reducing Aggressive Driving

There are ways to reduce incidents of aggressive driving. If some of the examples sound like you, the first step is recognizing that you have a problem. Always allow extra time to get to where you are going as many aggressive driving incidents are because drivers are running late. If you are already stressed or angry, don’t get behind the wheel. If you can avoid peak traffic times, this can help reduce aggressive driving as well. There are apps you can download that will allow you to avoid traffic or you can tune to your local traffic channel. Turn on soothing music or listen to a relaxing audiobook while you are driving. If another driver is aggressive or is not driving properly in some way, don’t take it personal. Simply get around them when it is safe.

If you have been involved in an accident as the result of aggressive driving or for any other reason, contact us today by phone or by filling out the easy form online to schedule a no obligation appointment.

What’s the Difference Between a Turbocharger and a Supercharger?

There is no question that American’s love their cars, especially those that go very fast. Speed is attractive to many in this country to the point we turned running from revenue agents during Prohibition into a sport loved by many, NASCAR. High performance engines fit in small sports cars and movies with fast-moving cars always do well at the box office. One way to speed up an engine is to add turbochargers or superchargers. However, it is important to understand the difference between them.

What is a Turbocharger?

Forced air induction gives a car more power and one way to do this is by tapping into the mechanical energy of the exhaust gases. This is a turbocharger. A turbocharger spins at a high g-rate and compresses air as it flows into the engine. This allows more air to be pushed into each cylinder as well as adding more fuel. When the mixture explodes, it is more powerful and doesn’t add engine weight since it uses the exhaust steam coming from the engine.

What is a Supercharger?

There are three different types of superchargers available compared to just one type of turbocharger. Named for Philander and Francis Roots, the Roots supercharger uses meshing lobes to blow air into the intake manifold. The Twin-Screw slams air together at decreasing speeds until it is deposited in the intake manifold. A Centrifugal uses an impeller to draw air in and uses centrifugal force to spread high-speed low-pressure air into the manifold.

Differences Between the Two

Turbochargers are complex and require skill to maintain. It sits on the exhaust manifold so that the turbine is spun by the exhaust. This is a weakness as you have to wait for the exhaust to pass through after stepping on the gas to get it started. It is shaft-connected to a compressor between the manifold and air filter, with the compressor adding between six to eight pounds. A turbocharger adds between 30 and 40 percent more power without adding to exhaust pollution. It is usually quieter than a supercharger and works best at high engine speeds. A supercharger uses the crankshaft for power which means it provides power to the engine almost immediately. The Roots supercharger is connected by a belt, chain, gear or shaft to the engine so it looks more impressive. It is also fuel-hungry and tops out around 50,000 RPM, using fuel the entire time to maintain its RPMs. It provides 46 percent more power at lower speeds which makes them a good option for trucks and diesel engines.

Whether your vehicle is turbocharged or supercharged, if you’ve been involved in a collision contact us today by calling or filling out the easy form online.

Do You Need a Windshield Replacement or a Repair?

The truck in front of you kicks up a stone from the tire, chipping your windshield. The oak tree in your backyard drops a large acorn on your car, chipping and cracking your windshield. Your son hits the windshield with a toy and a small chip appears. Your first thought may be that you will have to replace your windshield when these types of things happen, but it is possible you can repair the windshield and have it looking like new quickly. These tips can help you know if you need a full windshield replacement or you can simply have it repaired.

How Large is the Damage?

One of the biggest factors used in determining whether a windshield needs to be replaced or can be repaired is the size of the chip or crack. Although each case should be considered individually, the common theory is that if the chip or crack is less than the size of a dollar, you may be able to repair it. If it is larger than that, chances are you will need to replace your windshield.

Location of the Damage

Where the chip or crack is can also have an impact on whether you can repair it. If the chip is directly in front of the steering wheel, in the driver’s line of sight, repairing it could leave a discoloration or spot on the windshield which could be distracting or impair the driver’s vision. If the damage is in a corner, the windshield must be replaced as a corner crack makes the windshield unstable. This means it could shatter at any time.

How Much Damage is There?

If you have just one small chip or crack, it is possible that a repair will resolve the problem. However, if you have several chips or cracks in your windshield, you will probably need a full replacement. Any more than three damaged areas indicates that the windshield needs replacing. Even if those cracks are minor, damage in several places indicates that the integrity of the windshield is damaged. Because your windshield is also part of the support system for the roof, a windshield that has minimized integrity can present a significant danger.

If you have a crack or chip in your windshield, contact us today by calling or filling out the simple form online to arrange for a no obligation inspection.