Almost all of us have considered what may happen if lightning strikes our person or even our home. However, have you thought about the results of lightning hitting your car? The truth is, lightning can hit vehicles just as easily as it can hit anything else and it can certainly cause damage. It is, therefore, important to consider the damage that lightning can cause to your vehicle or to anyone who was inside the vehicle when the lightning struck.
Damage to the Car
You may think that a car may have significant visible damage after a lightning strike, such as huge scorch marks or fire damage. While lightning does usually cause visible damage, it is usually smaller burn marks than you may expect. However, such burn marks or dents can still be surprisingly costly to fix. In addition, lightning can wreak havoc on the electronic components or electrical wiring of your vehicle. Repairing the non-visible damage to your vehicle can be even more expensive than the exterior damage from lightning.
Injuries to Occupants
Many people imagine that they would suffer serious electrocution or injuries if they were in a car struck by lightning. After all, you are sitting inside a metal box, which makes you seem particularly vulnerable to lightning injuries. However, the metal exterior of a car can actually protect you from lightning injuries. This is because of an effect referred to as the Faraday Cage. The metal acts as a shield as it keeps the electrical currents on the outside of the vehicle. As long as you are not touching any metal parts inside the car, you should be relatively safe from injury. This is why you should always pull over and keep your hands in your lap if lightning storms occur while you are driving. If injury does result from lightning striking your vehicle, however, you could face serious medical bills for the treatment you require.
Call 203-367-7704 today for a quote.
Lightning striking your vehicle is only one of many unexpected incidents that can occur and leave you facing serious repair costs. Just as you want to protect your finances in the event of a collision, you also may want to look into greater coverage for a wider variety of events. At Berliner-Gelfand & Co., Inc., we help vehicle owners throughout Connecticut choose the right comprehensive auto insurance policy for their situation and concerns. We also offer a wide variety of insurance products, so please call today for a quote.