Oops, you were in a car accident. When you inspect the damage, you see dings and dents, and think that there’s not much damage. But think again. Even minor appearances can be deceiving. You could have major damage to your car frame.
What Happens To Your Car In An Accident
Just like it might take a few days for you to feel a whiplash injury, your car might be “hurt” too—moreso than you might first realize. It’s a good idea to head to the body shop to get your car checked out. For example, if you have a car with all-wheel technology, this design means that your rear axle and drive shaft can more easily be pushed into the car’s transmission, even during what appears on the surface to be a minor rear-end collision.
Unfortunately, even the slightest frame damage can cause other issues. Your airbags may not properly deploy and if you’re in another accident, the car frame may not be as good at absorbing the impact.
You’re probably wondering whether the auto shop can straighten your car frame after an accident? Modern cars definitely have many safety features to lessen damage and protect occupants, but nearly half of all accidents end up causing damage to your car’s inner frame. Crumple zones are built that way deliberately to absorb the collision impact. That’s why new cars suffer severe damage to the outer frame even in seemingly low-impact accidents.
Fixing The Damage After An Accident
Never fear though—a trained mechanic can get your car back to nearly new by using a specially designed framing machine to bend your frame back into its original shape. First, the auto shop will use ultrasound to look at the extent of frame damage. Most likely, your frame can be straightened but if not, the shop might suggest cutting out the bent pieces and welding new metal into the frame. However, your vehicle may not be as safe and your insurance policy might also be affected. If the frame damage is too severe, you may just consider totaling your car.
You don’t even have to be in an accident to cause damage. Even something as minor as hitting a pothole can create all kinds of issues like steering misalignment, engine damage and suspension and shock absorber damage.
The take away lesson here is that if your car damage amounts to more than scratched paint, take the car to an autobody repair shop for an assessment. There could be more damage than you think, but don’t take a risk on your safety and the safety of others who might drive in your car.
