On Thursdays, we run a feature on a few of the latest in automotive recalls to help keep you safer on the roads. As always, visit recalls.gov for complete listings of recalls, automotive and otherwise.

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Accidents happen. Chances are you will be in at least one accident in your life. This can be one of the most stressful situations, especially if you don’t know what to do after it happens. Whether it was your fault, or the other driver’s, it’s important to know what steps to take following an accident.

1. Check to make sure everyone is OK. When in doubt call an ambulance.

2. If the accident was minor, move your car to a safe place off the road and away from traffic.

3. Turn on your hazards and place cones, triangles, or warning flares around for safety.

4. Call the police, even in the event of a minor accident.

5. Be polite but avoid discussing the accident with the other driver and never admit fault or say “I’m sorry”. Discussing the accident with the other driver could lead to a dispute and saying “I’m sorry” can be used against you in court. Limit your discussion to police and your insurance agent.

6. Gather information. Get the name, address, phone number, email address, make, model, year of the car, license plate number, insurance carrier, and insurance policy number of the other driver(s) involved. If the name on the auto registration is different than the driver, make note of the relationship.

7. Take photos and notes of of the accident including damages to all vehicles involved, witness information, etc.

8. Notify your insurance agent as soon as possible.

Information for this post was found via State Farm and Cars.com.

For more automotive tips head over the Tips Section of our blog. You can also learn more about American Guardian Warranty and our reputation here.

Back in November we posted the ad for Chevrolet’s moving one-minute spot, “My Dad’s Car.” Today, we have another standout one-minute ad from Chevy, but we’re on the other end of the emotional spectrum this time. The video below is just as gutbusting as My Dad’s Car was tearjerking. Read the rest of this entry »

Every Thursday, we run a feature on a few of the latest in automotive recalls to help keep you safer on the roads. As always, visit recalls.gov for complete listings of recalls, automotive and otherwise.

2011 Infiniti FX, 2012 Infiniti M, numerous Nissan models

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For those of you residing in Illinois, a new seat belt law will take effect in the new year.

The new legislation requires all passengers in the back seat to wear seat belts. Previously, backseat passengers over the age of 19 were exempt but with a stronger focus on automobile safety, that has changed. In 2010, 38 back seat passengers who were not wearing seat belts died in crashes in Illinois.

Marva Boyd, chief of staff for IDOT, says that unbelted passengers pose a danger to everyone inside the vehicle, “There have been incidents where passengers have been projected from vehicles, have been bounced around, and unfortunately sometimes when that happens, they can create other injuries or fatalities”. – WJBC

The new legislation starts January 1, 2012. Fines for violating this new law start at $25.

For more automotive tips and news visit the American Guardian Warranty Blog or read about our reputation here.

OK, we lied. It couldn’t be harder to win a free Ford F-150, but this lady with absolutely no hockey experience made some of the NHL’s best sharpshooters look like amateurs.

This story has been blowing up on the internet and we couldn’t help but share it too.

59-year-old Brenda Hewlett had visited Frenchie’s Ford (the dealership giving away the truck) a few days earlier to get service work done on her failing truck. While talking to the Service Manager, Joe Jock, Brenda said, “I wish I could afford a new truck, mine is falling apart”. Joe gave her the ballot in which she could enter for a chance to win the new truck. Check out Jalopnik for more of the back-story.

Brenda, who has apparently never held a hockey stick, made an amazing shot to win a Ford F-150. The shot was from the far blue line, 3/4 of the rink away from the net (114 feet). The shot becomes even more impressive when you take into account that the net was completely blocked except for a small, puck-sized hole in the dead center.

The actual shot comes in at around the 1 minute mark, but the 60 seconds leading up to it gives you an idea of just how improbable it was.

For more news visit our blog or browse our tips for auto maintenance.

Every Thursday, we run a feature on a few of the latest in automotive recalls to help keep you safer on the roads. As always, visit recalls.gov for complete listings of recalls, automotive and otherwise.

2010-11 Cadillac SRX

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Hybrid cars get their name from the two or more power sources that put the vehicle in motion. If your auto is powered by a good ol’ internal combustion engine, you may be under the impression that there’s not a whole lot you can do to drive greener. Not the case!

Here are five ways you can reduce your carbon footprint in any car. In most cases, you’ll be saving some greenbacks as well.

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Just like an infant, dogs should be safely secured in a car. Fido might want to stick his head out of the window, but keeping him safe should be your #1 priority.

Even accidents at low speeds can cause injuries to your dog because of the various protuberances inside of a car. These structures can cause broken ribs, legs, and eye damage. An unrestrained dog also has the possibility of being crushed by a deployed airbag, thrown against the windshield, or thrown outside of the car.

Going back to Fido wanting to stick his head out of the window; this in itself is extremely dangerous. Airborne debris can put your dog at risk of injury to their eyes, nose, ears, mouth and face. Sticking their head out the window also puts them at more of a risk if an accident were to occur.

Another good reason you should secure your dog is your own safety. Let’s face it, even the most well-trained dogs can get restless at times. They might jump from seat to seat, distracting you in the process or a large dog can hinder your view. One of the worst things you can do is keep your dog on your lap while driving. This can interfere with driving and the dog can jump down into the footwell.

Nearly a third of the 1,000 dog-owning drivers admitted that they had been distracted by their dogs in a 2010 survey by the AAA. Owning a small dog doesn’t get you off the hook either. Officials from the AAA also say that a 10-pound dog would strike at 50 times its weight in a crash at 50 mph.

What You Should Do

Your safest bet is to secure your dog in a harness and seatbelt inside the vehicle. What about securing your dog in a crate? This is a better option than leaving the dog unrestrained, however in a serious accident your dog still has the possibility of being thrown against the side of the crate.

Do yourself, and your dog a favor, and secure them inside your vehicle with a harness & seatbelt.

Information from this post was found on Edmunds. You can read the article in its entirety here. Also be sure to check out more of our tips and learn about our A+ rating with the BBB.

Herb Younger thought the film crews that were recording him were documenting three generations of an American family. Little did he know that his two sons were planning to surprise him with his old car, a 1965 Chevy Impala SS.

In the early 90s, Herb sold the Impala to help pay for his sons’ education. It took the boys five years to track down the car and bring it back to their dad, but it was worth the wait.

We’d say more about the video, but it’s getting a little dusty in here.