cracked windshield Wind speeds may pick up during a storm, which can lead to debris damaging your car. Following the incident, you could be looking at anything from minor scratches to broken glass and side panels that need to be replaced.

Surface Damage

High winds can pick up and move objects in its path. Although homeowners are advised to bring in tools and outdoor furniture for this reason, smaller objects like twigs, garbage, gravel and rocks can hit your car’s side panels, glass and scratch the surface.

In terms of mending the damage, paintless dent repair or a paint job may be needed. At most, if a small pebble hits the car’s glass and causes spidering, complete glass replacement may be necessary.

Larger Objects

Windstorms exceeding 100 miles per hour greatly increase the damage your car may experience. At this speed, the wind is strong enough to hurl larger objects toward your vehicle, dent the side panels or shatter glass. Common sources include:

  • Patio furniture, grills, tools and lawn ornaments kept outdoors during the storm.
  • Shopping carts in a supermarket parking lot.
  • Signage that blows off from a commercial business.
  • Tree limbs, especially if the tree is overhead.
  • Telephone poles and power lines.
  • Loose materials left outdoors for projects, such as wood or bricks, become projectiles.

If the wind is strong enough to move one of these objects toward your car, it may:

  • Chip and shatter the glass
  • Scrape off paint
  • Dent body panels
  • Fall onto the hood
  • Total the vehicle

As a baseline, keep your car in the garage during the storm and remove all loose objects from your property. Depending on your land, this may entail securing a portable shed, swing set or other large objects into the ground. Additionally, make sure tree limbs are cut away from your home and garage area. If the forecast predicts a windstorm or tornado, stay at home.

Shattered Glass

It doesn’t take a large object to damage your car’s windows. Rather, winds over 100 mph can do this on their own, placing enough pressure on the windshield and side windows to shatter the materials – or result in significant cracks and spidering.

Broken Door Hinge

If the wind accelerates as you’re returning home and you park in the street or driveway, you risk a strong gust blowing the door so far back it breaks or damages the hinge or even dents the side panel.

After this occurrence, you may find the door doesn’t properly close or it doesn’t sit flush with the body. In these cases, the hinge needs to be replaced and, depending on the degree of damage, the side panels either need the dents removed or will also need to be replaced.

While Driving

Many people have a story about driving through strong winds and struggling to control their vehicle. Winds at even 40 MPH can decrease the vehicle’s handling and, especially if you’re not fully attentive, you risk losing control and colliding with another motorist or object.

High winds can also decrease visibility, creating clouds of dust and debris that make it harder to see what’s ahead. While drivers are expected to slow down and keep both hands on the wheel, accidents can happen, requiring various body and part repairs.
 
No matter the degree of damage, DaSilva’s Auto Body is ready to repair your car after a windstorm or tornado. To learn more about our services, contact us today.