When you get behind the wheel of your car, we know you’re always careful. After all, you’re not just driving for yourself; you’re also driving for the safety of your passengers and your car itself. 

However, damage can likely occur to your vehicle, no matter how careful you are. For that reason, it’s important to always keep in mind natural hazards that can commonly cause damage that may require dent repair — even if you drive carefully.

1. Trees

One of the most common causes of car damage is trees. Falling branches, deadwood, and even fully-grown trees can come crashing down and create costly damage to your car. While it’s impossible to predict when exactly a tree may fall, there are certain measures you can take to minimize the risk of damage.

Be sure to always drive around low-hanging trees that look like they may pose a risk, and keep an eye out for fallen branches and debris while you’re on the road. Trees are also more likely to fall during storms, so keep your car parked in a garage or covered area whenever possible to mitigate the damage risk from storms.

2. Hail

Another common cause of dent repair — especially paintless dent removal — is hail. Driving during a hailstorm can be quite dangerous if you’re not prepared, and hailstones can easily cause dents and scratches on your car whether you’re driving or parked.

To reduce your risk of hail damage, make sure you drive at a safe speed when there’s a chance of hail. If possible, park your car inside or in a garage when severe weather is expected, and if you’re caught driving in a hail storm, try to find shelter under an overpass or a bridge.

3. Road Debris

From glass shards to large pebbles and even pieces of scrap metal, road debris can cause a lot of damage to your car if you aren’t careful. Damage from road debris is one of the most common causes of bumper crack repair we see at Bumper Buddies, and it’s often the cause of the most severe damage we come across.

To reduce your risk of damage from road debris, be sure to keep your distance from other cars and objects on the road, and never cross lanes without making sure the area is clear of debris. It’s also important to stay vigilant while driving and keep an eye out for any objects in your lane that may have fallen off of a truck or other vehicle. Especially at freeway speeds, impacts from these objects can be extremely dangerous.

4. Children at Play

Although they’re not exactly a natural force, they can often feel like it. Children are one of the biggest dangers to vehicles, even though they rarely mean to damage a car on purpose. From losing control of a shopping cart to aiming their baseball toss incorrectly, kids at play can be a danger to your car, whether you’re driving or parked.

To protect yourself and your vehicle from these little hazards, it’s important to be especially vigilant when driving through residential neighborhoods. Make sure to drive slowly and always look both ways before turning to avoid crossing the path of any children who might be out playing — especially during summer.

If you’ve incurred one of these common causes of car damage and are in need of dent repair, call the experts at Bumper Buddies. We have a five-star rating that we’ve maintained for our 20 years in business, and we offer a three-year warranty on all of our repairs. If you’d like to receive a free quote for your dent repair today, give us a call today at 888-711-5074, text us at 949-799-1413, or contact us online.