Living in Central Florida means lots of sunshine, but it also means lots of thunderstorms, particularly in the summer. Did you know that Geneva, a town just east of Orlando, is the state's lightning strike capital? We see a ton of lightning in Clermont, too, and today we're talking about a question that many drivers have but haven't gotten the answers to - what happens if your car gets struck by lightning?
What happens when your car gets struck by lightning?
Before we talk about the effects of your car getting struck by lightning, let's discuss how to react in this emergency situation. The good news is that if your car does get struck by lightning and you're sitting in it with the windows closed, you're more than likely going to be just fine. Your Clermont Toyota is a hard metal shell so when lightning hits it, it deflects that electrical energy around you. However, what you do after the strike is critical.
- If you're sitting in your car and it gets struck by lightning, you should immediately pull over to the side of the road and turn your hazards on. However, be EXTREMELY careful not to touch anything that's metal - only touch plastic.
- You should turn your car off and put your hands in your lap. It's also a good idea to call local emergency services and let them know what's going on. Wait for at least 30 minutes before trying to exit the car and again, do not touch anything that's metal or turn on any of the electronics.
- If you're outside of the vehicle when your car gets struck by lightning, do not touch it. Call local emergency services and wait at least 30 minutes before trying to open any of the doors.
You also need to call your car insurance company as soon as possible to report the claim. It's not difficult to tie physical aesthetic damage to lightning, but it may be harder to tie electrical and mechanical damage to it. Let your insurance know what happened ASAP and get a claim started so you can also get repairs going.
Now that you know how to safely navigate when your car gets struck by lightning, it's time to talk about what a lightning strike can actually do to your Clermont Toyota. Here are some of the after-effects of this situation:
Electrical system damage. Lightning is electrical energy and when that energy surges through your car, it can fry or melt your car's electrical system as well as any electronics, like your audio system or display.
Engine and mechanical damage. Lightning can also cause engine failure and other mechanical damage, leaving you without a running vehicle.
Damaged to paint, plastic, and glass. Lightning can do a number to the exterior of your Clermont Toyota. It can damage the paint, shatter glass, and melt plastic in one swoop.
Fire. Lightning can also cause a fire in your Clermont Toyota, leaving you with costly and even sometimes irreparable damage.
Deployed airbags. Lightning can even deploy the airbags in your car. When this happens, your car may or may not be declared totaled based on the other damage from the lightning.
Schedule auto repairs at Toyota of Clermont today
Have questions or need auto repairs after your car gets struck by lightning or suffers through other bad weather? Toyota of Clermont is here to help... as always. Call our Toyota service department at (352) 404-7001 or stop by. We're conveniently located just west of the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50.
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