Flooding is not as common in Denver as in some cities. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, and sometimes for surprising reasons. In mid-April, part of the Berkeley neighborhood flooded because of a water main break. Floods can cause damage to vehicles, but if you make the wrong move when driving in flooded areas, the consequences can be much worse: you can lose your car or be swept away and killed.

Here are some tips so you can avoid damage to your car. If your car does suffer damage, however, let Accurate Auto Body help. We can repair collision damage to the car’s body to help it look and drive like new again.

Tip #1: Don’t Drive in Water If You Can Avoid It

Whenever possible, try to avoid driving in standing water or moving water. Because we’re not used to much flooding in Denver, the Denver police aren’t good at putting up barricades to mark high waters. Don’t assume that the absence of barricades means that it’s safe to drive through water. If there are barricades marking high water – don’t pass them.

It doesn’t take much water to make your car lose control, cause damage to the car, or even stall your car. If your car isn’t specialized to deal with water, it’s best to just take a different route if you encounter flooded streets.

Tip #2: Drive in the Middle of the Road

If you must drive in flooded roads, drive in the middle of the road. Roads are designed high in the center and low on the edges, so most of the time the water will be shallower when you travel in the middle. This can cause congestion as cars traveling in opposite directions must take turns. Be polite and patient – it will slow you down even more if you drive aggressively and get in an accident or try to navigate a lower part of the road and get stuck.

Tip #3: Try to Gauge the Depth of Water Before Entering

Never enter water unless you have a good idea of its depth. The best way to know the depth of water is watching other cars travel through it. Then you can observe the depth. Avoid water that’s more than six inches deep (a little less than midway up most car’s tires).

If there are no other cars, you might estimate the depth of water on a familiar street. However, be warned that sometimes the bottom of the street washes out, or a newly formed pothole might cause deeper water than you expect.

Tip #4: Drive Slowly in Water

Driving through water significantly diminishes your car’s ability to grip the road. This can make it hard to keep control. Plus, trying to push through water too quickly can cause waves that create problems for you and other drivers. Enter water at around 1-2 miles per hour (mph), then climb to a speed of around 3-4 mph.

Tip #5: Don’t Try to Move a Stalled Car

Once your car stalls in water, you will likely have to leave it until you can get a tow after water recedes. Restarting the engine after it gets overwhelmed by water can cause irreparable damage. Getting out of the car and trying to push it out of the water puts you at risk of getting swept away. You might also be struck by debris in the current or by another car.

If the water level is stable, it might be safest to stay in the car and call for help. If the water level is rising, you will have to abandon the car and get to higher ground.

Why Choose Accurate Auto Body for Flood Damage to Your Car

Do you have flood damage to your car? Let Accurate Auto Body Help. Our highly skilled technicians have helped our auto body shop earn and maintain the elite I-CARR Gold rating. Our mechanics are factory trained by Honda and Toyota, but technical expertise is only part of the benefit of working with us. We maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau because of our high degree of customer satisfaction.

That’s thanks in large part to our Focus on You Service™ system. We take the time to listen to your repair needs and follow through, using our expertise to get it right the first time. We give you a guaranteed estimate and a guaranteed completion date. We work around your schedule, and you can check the progress on your car’s auto body repair at any time on our website.

Want to learn how our approach can benefit your car? Please call 303-344-2212 or contact us online to get a free repair estimate at our auto body shop in the Sunny Vale neighborhood of Aurora.

If you live in Colorado, you need to know about snow chains. The weather can turn snowy for most of the year, especially in the mountains. When the snow falls in the mountains, the steep grades can become dangerous, and snow chains are a way to reduce the danger of getting in a car accident. In addition, the law often requires that you carry chains and/or use them when conditions demand it.

At Accurate Auto Body, we hope that you can avoid getting in an accident, not to mention getting what can be a very expensive ticket – and tow charge – if your lack of chains ends up leading to an accident. That’s why we want to let you know the vehicle chain laws in Colorado. Note that this is distinct from the Colorado traction law.

Commercial Vehicle Chain Law

In Colorado, all commercial vehicles traveling on I-70 between the Dotsero exit (133) and the Morrison exit (259) must carry chains to be in compliance. This restriction is in place to ensure commercial vehicles don’t get stuck on the roads or get into accidents, causing blocked lanes that can shut down the highways. Accidents and being stranded can be dangerous, even deadly, for motorists.

The chain law can also be enacted for commercial vehicles at any time on other roads.

Colorado defines commercial vehicles as meeting one or more of the following criteria:

• Having a gross vehicle weight of 16,001 pounds or more.
• Having a gross combination weight of 16,001 pounds or more, including a towed unit, which has a gross vehicle weight-ration of more than 10,000 pounds.
• Designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

These characteristics apply even if the vehicle is not being used for commercial purposes.

Passenger Vehicle Chain Law

For passenger vehicles, which are all vehicles weighing less than 16,001 pounds, a chain law is much less common. It is enacted when conditions on the road are slippery because of snow. Chain laws are enacted for passenger vehicles only under the worst conditions. When a chain law is in effect for passenger vehicles, the vehicle must have tire chains or alternate traction devices installed on two or more drive tires.

How to Know When a Chain Law Is in Effect

We noted above that chain laws are in effect for commercial vehicles traveling on I-70 for most of the year. However, you can check when and where chain laws are in effect on specific roads by going to CDOT’s COtrip events list. You can also sign up to get COtrip travel alerts on your phone.

If You Do Get in an Accident, Choose Accurate Auto Body

We hope you can avoid an accident this winter, in part by following chain and traction laws. However, if you do get into an accident that damages your car, choose Accurate Auto Body for your repairs.

We use our exclusive Focus On You Service System™ to ensure you get the best service and the best results from your auto body repair. We treat you with respect. Our friendly staff and welcomes you to our comfortable environment. We want you to feel at home and feel free to ask a question or speak up to get what you want from your repairs.

We’ll educate you on all your repairs so you know exactly what to expect when repairs are complete, and so you can choose the repair options that really matter to you. we can tell you about your repairs in the way you want, using either plain or technical language.

We provide you with guaranteed pricing and a guaranteed completion date. You have a budget, and you depend on your car. We make sure you don’t break your budget and get your car back with minimum disruption to your busy schedule. We also work around your schedule, allowing drop off and pickup times that fit your life.

When we fix your car, we do it right the first time. Our mechanics are factory certified by Honda and Toyota. Plus, our shop has achieved the coveted I-CAR Gold Class recognition. We have an A+ rating with the BBB, evidence that we satisfy our customers with our high-quality repairs.

We can even help coordinate your insurance claims, saving you time and hassle.

Want to receive an estimate on getting quality repairs on your vehicle? Please call 303-344-2212 or contact us online for a free estimate on your repairs.

With winter finally deciding to show up along the Front Range, we’re also seeing an increase in the number of car accidents related to the winter weather. At Accurate Auto Body, that means we’re plenty busy, so we’d just as soon it didn’t have to be your car in our shop. Here are some of our tips to help you avoid accidents when you’re driving in the snow.

Don’t Make Unnecessary Trips

You can’t get in a car accident if you’re not in your car. When the weather and road conditions are bad, it’s best to reduce the number of trips you’re taking. See if you can work remotely for the day. Avoid trips for recreation. Only go out for essential supplies. (Note: it’s a good idea to have some extra supplies on hand in Colorado so you can get through winter storms without needing to go to the store, even if it falls on your regular grocery day.)

Prepare Your Car

Make sure your car is in good condition for driving in snow and ice. Most important is your tires. These are going to make the most difference in your car’s performance for starting, stopping, and turning in snow and ice. Make sure your tires are in good shape. Consider switching to snow tires for winter, especially if you live in the mountains.

Also make sure your car has a good level of antifreeze, and that your wiper fluid reservoir is filled with a de-icing formula. Try to keep your gas tank close to full all winter long – you might be stuck in traffic for a long time and unable to get to a gas station.

Plus, it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car in case the worst happens.

Check Road Conditions in Advance

If you do have to head out, check out road conditions before you go. Sometimes it might make sense to plan a different route than usual, one that sticks to streets that are more likely to be clear, avoids accidents, and limits hills.

Don’t forget that weather can roll in suddenly and change dramatically in Denver. Pay attention to the forecast and try to be in before the weather hits or be prepared for it to go bad while you’re out.

Clear Your Vehicle

It’s a good idea to clear your vehicle fully before heading out. You want to have all your windows clear for full visibility, and you want to make sure that others can see your headlights, brake lights, and turn signals.

Beyond that, try to clear as much snow as possible from the roof and hood of your car. This snow can get on your windows once you start moving. Besides, snow from your car can obscure the vision of other cars, which might make them more likely to hit you.

Go Slow and Keep Your Distance

This should go without saying, but you should go slow and increase distance between you and other cars when you’re driving in snow and ice. It can be frustrating taking so much longer to get home in the snow, but it’s a lot faster to drive slow than it is to get in an accident.

Avoid Abrupt Maneuvers

Avoid trying to do anything too suddenly in ice and snow. Accelerate slowly, brake gradually, and let yourself turn gently. Whenever possible, try not to steer and accelerate or brake at the same time.

If you find you missed a turn, it’s better to go around than to try to make a sudden maneuver, causing an accident. If you’re making a left turn, wait until the space between cars is wide enough to accommodate your slow acceleration.

Be In Your Best Shape for Driving

Winter driving takes all your skill and attention. Make sure you’re up to the task whenever you get behind the wheel. Don’t drive when tired. Try to avoid distractions or outside stress when you’re driving – the road conditions are stressful enough!

And, of course, don’t drink and drive, ever, especially not when the conditions are bad.

Why Choose Accurate Auto Body for Dent Repair

However, if you do end up getting into an accident, choose Accurate Auto Body for your dent repairs.

We are Toyota factory trained and Honda certified for collision repair. We also maintain I-CAR gold class certification, a testament to the quality of techniques we use and the level of training for our technicians. Our Focus on You Service™ system also means we offer guaranteed quotes and completion dates. We also guarantee the quality of our repairs. Our work is done right the first time. We can work around your schedule, and we will work with your insurance company.

To schedule a free estimate on your repairs, please call 303-344-2212 or contact us online.

The Front Range experienced an extended snowless period in 2021, setting the record for the latest first snow in Denver, and almost tying the longest period without snow as of the time of this writing. This might make people who don’t spend time in the mountains think they don’t need snow tires.

However, the Colorado Rocky Mountains have been getting a steady supply of snow for months, which means that if you live in the mountains or spend a lot of time there, switching to snow tires is an important way to avoid needing collision repair.

At Accurate Auto Body, we want you to stay safe on the roads this winter, so we want to help you choose the best snow tires. There are many good options, though they may not all come in sizes appropriate for your vehicle. Here are a few points to consider about your snow tires, as well as some suggested options for you.

What about Studded Tires?

When thinking about true snow tires, many people’s first thought goes to studded tires. Colorado is one of the few states where you can have studded tires at any time of year, and this might make them appealing.

However, for the most part, studded tires are not necessary. Modern tread designs on snow tires work great on roads covered with powder, packed snow, and slush. If you’re off-roading through deep snow, it’s best to put on chains. The place where you will see the most benefit from studded tires is on icy roads. If you often find yourself on slick ice, studded tires might be a good choice for you, but we mostly are looking at non-studded tires.

Bridgestone Blizzak Tires

Although many people have their personal favorites, there’s one snow tire that Colorado mountain drivers talk about most: Blizzak.

Blizzak tires utilize multi-cell tubes – a porous rubber that acts like a sponge – to disperse water from the surface of snow and ice to improve contact between the car and the surface. Then the tire’s grip particles, like mini studs embedded in the rubber, can give your tire additional grip. This provides great control in snow, slush, and even on ice.

There are six different models of Blizzak tires, making it easier to find one that fits your car and your driving needs.

General Tire Altimax Arctic

Another snow tire that is popular among Colorado mountain drivers is the General Tire Altimax Arctic series.

These tires have advanced sipes to help grip in snow and additional raised ridges within their grooves to provide even better traction in snow. Plus, this line of tires is studdable if you need studs for driving in icy conditions.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3

Nokian Tyres promotes itself as the northernmost tire manufacturer in the world and focuses on producing the best snow tires. Although the manufacturer offers multiple studded tires, this non-studded version is extremely popular. Well-designed grooves and sipes give this tire great grip in snowy conditions. Plus, it has great performance on dry roads. They’re also available in most sizes, making this an accessible choice. The only downside is that they wear quickly in warm, dry weather.

When Snow Tires Weren’t Enough, Choose Accurate Auto Body

Unfortunately, sometimes even the best snow tire isn’t enough to protect you from a traffic accident. Pile-ups can force you to stop faster than any tire possibly could under snowy or icy conditions. Plus, you can’t count on other people to be using their snow tires, and someone on bald all-weather tires can easily slide into you.

If you were involved in a traffic accident on snowy Colorado roads, whether in the High Country or along the Front Range, look for an auto body shop that is not just capable of handling the collision repairs, but also cares about you.

Accurate Auto Body is a highly awarded auto body shop, I-CAR gold class recognized, Toyota trained and certified by Honda.  Our Focus on You Service™ system offers many benefits when shops get busy in or after the winter accident season. We offer guaranteed estimates and a guaranteed completion date. Plus, we work around your schedule and deal with your insurance company. We also treat you with respect and compassion. We know being in an accident is stressful enough – you don’t need more stress from your collision repair shop.

Please call 303-344-2212 or use our online contact form to request an estimate on your repairs at Accurate Auto Body, serving customers in Denver and Aurora, CO.