If you are involved in an accident with your car or truck, there are some pretty good reasons to take the vehicle to an autobody shop and have a full inspection done. Even minor accidents can cause serious problems that need to be addressed to ensure the car is safe and drives properly.
Unseen Damage
One of the problems with car accidents is that things are often damaged that you can't see just by looking at the vehicle. The frame under the car is no longer a heavy steel support system on modern vehicles. Instead, manufacturers are moving to uniframe construction that incorporates the support structure into the passenger compartment to create an envelope for safety.
The uniframe is designed to collapse in specific areas, and the collision repair shop can check it for you, but that requires some special tools and equipment. It is critical to inspect the entire vehicle to ensure nothing gets missed that could cause problems later.
While the technician is under the car, the suspension, drivetrain, and brake systems should all be checked for damage that could cause handling issues. If everything looks good under the car, the focus can move to dealing with the visible damage and making necessary repairs to get the car back on the road.
Interior Air Bags
Another area of concern involves the airbags in your vehicle. If the collision was enough to set the airbags off, they need replacing, which can be challenging. Replacing the airbags requires some special knowledge of the system, and the auto collision repair shop will need to check the sensors in the car before installing new bags.
If the impact sensors are crushed or active and you try to connect the new airbags, the result could be an extremely dangerous bag deployment. The system needs resetting, and the sensors should be changed if they are in the impact area.
Collision Damage Repair
Damage to the exterior of your car is often the biggest part of collision repair after an accident. If you have very little damage, you may be able to have a few dents pulled without even repainting the vehicle. However, the inspection from the body shop will determine how extensive the damage is and what it will take to repair the car properly.
Once the entire vehicle inspection is complete, the auto body shop manager will explain the report to you and walk you through the repair process. If you have insurance coverage that will cover the damage, the body shop will often be able to send the bill for the work directly to your insurer, making the process easier for you.
Contact a local auto body shop, such as Select Collision Group, to learn more.
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