When is a car considered totaled?

Getting into a car accident is scary and worrisome in itself- the insurance claims process should not be another worry! Watch this video to find out what to do and some best practices to make sure your claims process goes as smoothly as possible.

Beaux Knows Insurance - Reed Insurance

The History of Automotive Repairs - Why We Need Trained Technicians in the Collision Repair Industry

Vehicle History Overview

* They don't make them like they used to.

The First Cars

* The first motor cars were nothing more than a buggy and engine (Generally repaired by blacksmiths and carpenters. These cars were very expensive, which only the wealthy could afford)
* Model T was the first car mass production on an assembly line in 1908 (Ford's Vision was to produce an affordable car the average person could purchase)
* Model T's came in black only to keep the costs down. (The price came down once the assembly line was streamlined, but in 1908, the cost for a Model T started at $825. By 1913 the cost of the car reduced to $550)

Cars in the 1960s

Cars were made the same basic way up through the 60s

* Body Over Frame
* Rear Wheel Drive (Same concept, but the cars were very big, bulky, and heavy)

Except people in the 60s wanted SPEED! They achieved this with Big Block Motors, which created a lot of Horsepower. (The Birth of Hotrods, Rat Fink, Flames, and Pin Striping).

Cars in the 1970s

* The government place strict fuel economy and emissions control laws
* Customers demanded cars with increased fuel economy
* New laws and customer demands started the automotive explosion of engineering ideas and changes in the automotive industry

Changes to comply with Demands and Laws

* Smaller bodied cars and smaller engines
* Aerodynamics (Increase Fuel Mileage)
* Lighter cars by using different materials and designs
* More work-hardened areas created during formation of panel (Body Lines)
* Safety

Construction of Interstate Highways + Higher Speed Limits + More High Performance Cars = Accidents and More

Deaths from Auto Accidents

Federal Laws were passed to regulate safety. These laws included:

* Installation of seatbelts
* Safety glass windshields
* Head restraints
* In 1979, the first driver side airbag was introduced
* Airbags are mandatory in motor cars produced after 1990
* Unibody Torque Boxes: Allow controlled twisting and crushing
* Crush Zones: Made to collapse during collision (To act as an absorber, absorbing the impact)

Modern Day Cars

* Carbon Fiber Parts
* Aluminum Parts
* More Plastic Parts
* High Strength Steel
* Boron Steel
* Unibody Construction
* Space Frame Construction
* Computer
* Hybrid Cars

Now they even have cars that will tell you when you're lost, where to turn, Parallel Park for you.

Conclusion

While the modern day cars appear to be made cheap and unsafe, they are actually designed to crush or collapse, while transferring the energy around the stronger passenger compartment to protect the passengers from injury.

There is considerably more damage to modern day cars during a collision than the older vehicles, which gives the perception that "they don't make them like they used to". However, in reality the cars are taking the impact instead of the passengers.

The lesson was designed to give you a little history, but to also emphasize that just a hammer, dolly and a few wrenches are not going to repair today's cars. We need highly trained collision repair and automotive technicians to repair today's vehicles.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4210770

The Importance of a Properly Installed Windshield

Did you know up to 30% of your vehicle’s structural strength is derived from your windscreen? Or that the windscreen supports the airbag or airbag cover when activated in an accident?

The vital role a windscreen plays in the safety of your vehicle cannot be overstated. Every time we turn the ignition we place our trust in our vehicle. Our safety and that of our passengers, other motorists and pedestrians is reliant on our vehicle’s components meeting all necessary safety standards.

Windscreens form a key part of your vehicle's safety restraint system (SRS).

SRS has been developed to keep the driver and passengers inside the vehicle during an accident. Provisions for seat belts and air bags are found in the SRS, and each component within the SRS must be functioning for the vehicle to be deemed safe.

Occupant ejection and head injuries account for a large proportion of fatalities in road accidents. Maintaining the integrity of the windscreen is integral to the prevention of such occurrences as the windscreen helps keep passengers inside the car while supporting the roof and the airbags when activated.

For optimal safety, always repair a windscreen as soon as the damage occurs. Repair can save the windscreen and in doing so maintain its original factory seal, which will help reduce the risk of air and water leakage.

Hiring a trained specialist to fix your windscreen is paramount, which is why it pays to use an AGA member who understands the standards, has access to the latest technical advice and abides by a code of practice. Click here for a list of auto glass technicians because

when it comes to safety, there should be no compromise.

A word on wiper blades…

Who has waited for the next rainy day before remembering their wiper blades need changing? Even though maintaining vision in inclement weather is critical, for some reason wipers aren’t seen as a priority. The AGA recommends wipers are changed regularly, at least twice a year.

Source: https://www.autoglass.org.au/Safety

Tips For Avoiding a Rear-End Crash

You might be able to prevent a rear-end crash if you apply a little technique to how you handle following distance.

Nine facts on road safety explained

Wen Injuries occur the obvious answer is speed management 30 K should be the maximum speed where cars cyclists and pedestrians mix but there are more tools than speed limits how we train drivers inverse rules and design roads roundabouts force drivers to slow down for instance they also have fewer points flict and make collisions at dangerous angles almost impossible there is now ample evidence to show but a reduction of just 1% in the average speeds of vehicles lead to a reduction of 4% of in the number of fatal crashes 33% of a scooter crashes end with head injuries twice as many as with bicycles according to a recent US study the bicycle has long been a favorite for shorter trips recently electric bikes scooters and also more exotic devices have become hugely popular are they the future of urban mobility or safety risks on wheels innovations in micro mobility may bring new crash risks but if we understand those risks we can counter them 8 out of 10 fatal crashes with micro vehicles involve cars so micro mobility requires protection its own protected Street space or traffic calming where all vehicles must sharethe space street design must also serve the safety of do's using micro vehicles if we can make it safe micro mobility rhymes with opportunity that of shaping a sustainable urban mobility landscape zero deaths on our roads Easter vision we must aim for it is unacceptable that anyone should lose his or her life a the price for other people to get from A to B or zero that's possible it's a vision and I am optimistic a vision makes us think about what needs to actually happen so we get there it changes our mindset and the truth is we have become far too complacent about road safety we have accepted it as normal that people die in traffic bu our starting point should be that ttcrashes must never be deadly even if someone makes a mistake if it transform our human mobility based on this idea what now seems utopian comes into reach you

  

What Are the Most Common Causes of Auto Accidents?

What are the most common causes of auto accidents? Safety experts agree that the number-one cause of accidents is human error.

Almost all crashes can be prevented by more careful behavior and responsible conduct and driving habits. In more recent years, this is commonly known as "Distracted Driving" and it takes on many different forms.

The most common mistakes drivers make include drinking and driving; speeding; drag racing other vehicles; driving while fatigued; and distractions involving applying make-up, talking, singing, passenger misconduct or immaturity, eating or drinking, texting, browsing social media sites or other activities involving smart phones. But in many cases, simply not paying attention and being mentally distracted by personal matters can cause drivers to drift out of the lane, run red lights and stop signs or break other basic traffic rules.

These "Distractions" and many others have caused many, many terrible, needless and life-changing accidents that were otherwise avoidable or preventable.