Screeching tires, crunching metal – it’s an accident! If you’ve ever been in a car accident in St. Peter, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It’s hard to think straight and know what to do.

Let’s review what St. Peter drivers should do in case of an accident:

When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident in St. Peter is considered a crime – even if it’s not your fault. And hit and run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your MN driver’s license or even jail time.

Your jurisdiction may require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood. Call St. Peter emergency services as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.

You should always file a police report. It’s tempting to skip this if everything seems to be ok. But without a police report, the other guy can say whatever he wants about the accident later, and you won’t have an objective report to help defend yourself. Discuss the accident only with the police. Emotions are strong after an accident and we naturally want to talk about it – don’t. Never admit fault or guilt to anyone including the St. Peter police officer. Sometimes we may feel at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the other guy may be responsible.

Truthfully give the officer the facts: such as, “I was going 30 miles an hour,” or, “I was going 55 kilometers per hour,” not, “I wasn’t speeding.” Remember, anything you say to the officer or anyone else can be used against you. Also get the officer’s name and ID number and ask where you can get a copy of the accident report.

Get the facts on the driver and owner of the other vehicle:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Driver’s license number and expiration
• Insurance information

Also take down a description of the other vehicle, license plate and vehicle identification number (VIN). Most MN auto insurance companies don’t record license plate numbers, so the VIN is the best way to track a vehicle in MN.

Ask witnesses, including passengers, to wait for the police. If they can’t wait, ask for contact information and request that they write a brief description of what they saw. If someone refuses to leave their name, write down their license plate number so the police can track them down later if necessary. Always call your insurance agent or your insurance company. Call or see a physician if you think you may have been injured. For vehicle repairs, call Autotronics of St. Peter at 507.934.9290.

Contact Autotronics of St. Peter to learn more about what to do in case of an auto accident.
You can find us at:

111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

A big part of the service we provide at Autotronics of St. Peter for our St. Peter customers is education. We want you to feel confident with your service decisions.

And we’re always open to questions from our valued St. Peter area customers. Even though we try to be proactive in our Autotronics of St. Peter automotive education, we sometimes get busy fixing vehicles and need a reminder. Please, just ask.

We’ve found our St. Peter customers like the service reminders. They’ve grown to trust that our recommendations are based on the vehicle manufactures’ published maintenance schedules and that Autotronics of St. Peter is not just pulling them out of the air.

We know that people in St. Peter live a busy life with a lot more to think about than wondering if it’s time to replace the PCV valve on their vehicle. Part of our Autotronics of St. Peter service process is checking the vehicle manufacture’s schedule to make sure we don’t overlook service.

We hope MN drivers appreciate their courtesy inspection when they come into our St. Peter facility for service. If we find something unexpected, it’s good to know, and if we don’t find anything wrong, you get a little peace of mind.

You know, customer satisfaction is very important to us at Autotronics of St. Peter. We want to run a professional and friendly St. Peter automotive service operation. If we do, you’ll keep coming back and recommend us to your friends.

Give us a call at 507.934.9290.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

When they hear the word suspension, many drivers in St. Peter may think back to those energetic days of grade school. Well, your vehicle’s suspension is actually a good thing because it keeps your vehicle up off the road and helps provide a comfy ride around St. Peter. Its job is to keep your wheels firmly planted over bumps and through curves. Your suspension system has many parts. If you look under your vehicle, it’s basically everything that connects your wheels to the vehicle’s frame. These are heavy duty parts that do a lot of work. They need to be inspected for damage and excessive wear at least once a year. A good time for this is when you get your annual alignment service at Autotronics of St. Peter.

Here are some warning signs of suspension problems:

• the car pulls to one side
• it wanders
• the steering is erratic
• you see uneven tire wear
• you experience a poor ride or handling
• you see oil leaking from shocks

Basically, you just don’t feel in control when you’re driving.

Some suspension parts just wear out with use. Shocks and struts eventually lose their ability to control your ride. Wheel bearings need to be repacked every couple of years. And some suspension pieces need to be lubricated when you get your oil changed. Your service advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter can perform an inspection and tell you what problems you may have.

If you’re in an accident, your suspension can be damaged or knocked out of alignment. Even a minor accident, like hitting a curb around St. Peter or even a large rock can mess things up for drivers. With a minor accident it’s tempting for many to just get an alignment or wheel balance to correct the problem. But if there’s damage, a simple alignment won’t actually fix the problem, and you’ll just have to align it again after the repairs are made. So if you have an accident, get your suspension system inspected right away. Suspension problems are a major safety issue because they can lead to unsafe handling.

One big cause of suspension damage for St. Peter drivers is potholes – those nasty magnets that form in roads in freezing weather. They seem to draw our tires right into them. Here are some tips for avoiding damage from potholes: First, keep your tires at their full air pressure. That gives tires their maximum resiliency and will hopefully keep your wheels or other suspension parts from crunching on a big hole. Next, just pay attention. When you see a hole you can’t miss, slow down before you hit it. Driving at a slower speed will limit the damage and may keep your drink from spilling. But avoid the temptation to brake directly over the pothole. That will cause the car’s weight to shift forward and add to the potential damage.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com