How Auto Body Shops Identify Unseen Damage After a Collision

A dented bumper, scratched paint, a broken windshield—the aftermath of a car accident is often accompanied by a visible reminder. However, it is important to know not all damage following an accident is visible. This can be especially true in newer vehicles that include automated driver assistance systems (ADAS) as these sensors and components are often not visible.

After a collision, when assessing the damage, you may want to bring the vehicle to a professional to determine if the damage is cosmetic or if there is unseen damage that could impact vehicle performance or safety features.  

Unseen Technologies

Many newer vehicles include a variety of sensors to guide driver assistance technology. Often sensors are located in the front and rear bumpers as well as throughout the interior and exterior of the vehicle. These sensors work together with onboard computers to allow features like parallel parking assistance, rear cameras for assistance backing up, and even collision prevention measures. Following an accident, it is important to confirm that your systems are fully operational.

Fortunately, auto body shops have various ways to detect this unseen damage, and one of the most important is diagnostic scanning.

A diagnostic scan is performed after you drop your car off at the shop, before repair work begins. To perform a diagnostics assessment, a repair technician connects your car to a scanner, which reveals if any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) appear. This scan runs through all the various programs and features that help your car run, and it flags any problems or miscommunications between those systems.

This scan gives auto repairers visibility into seen and unseen systems.

If you’re in an accident, it is important to remember to think about unseen damage as well. You can always play it safe and contact a local collision repair professional to determine the extent of the damage. Carwise is happy to connect you to local professionals, many of which offer photo estimates online. Use the shop finder tool on Carwise to search your zip code for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.

Have you ever had your car rear-ended while stopped at an intersection, or know someone who has?  Is so, take heart in the fact you’re not alone.  According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), of the over 6 million traffic accidents each year in the U.S., 40% involve rear-end collisions.  Most are not serious, and the resulting damage to the rear-ended vehicle is usually superficial, like a broken tail light or cracked bumper.  But unfortunately, even minor rear-end fender benders can cause more serious, underlying problems to your car that may not show up for a while- ones that could place your safety, and that of your passengers, in jeopardy.  With that said, here are 4 common hidden complications caused by rear-end collisions.

Trunk Malfunctions

There are several trunk-related glitches that can arise after a rear-end accident, even when your car looks fine, such as:

Lid pops open unexpectedly

You could be driving briskly down the highway one day and the trunk lid flies open, obstructing your rearview mirror’s field-of-vision.

Doesn’t stay locked

This isn’t good when your car’s left unattended for several hours in a strange area where there might be potential thieves around.

Water Seepage

Rear-end collisions can compromise the trunk lid’s seal, allowing potentially-harmful moisture to enter the compartment.

Opening difficulties

It’s no fun if you’re standing in the pouring rain and can’t get the trunk to open with your key fob or the trunk release inside the vehicle.

Unrepaired trunk malfunctions can also reduce your car’s resale value, so after an accident promptly take it to a reliable body shop to have the problem diagnosed and fixed.

Misaligned Wheels

When your wheels are out-of-alignment, you’ll notice these driving abnormalities:

Car tracks unevenly down the road

This makes driving down winding roads trickier.

Steering wheel seems wobbly

Could interfere with your ability to swerve, if needed.

Unusual vibrations

This causes reduced ride comfort for you and your passengers.

In addition to not being safe, a vehicle that’s misaligned causes premature, uneven tire wear

requiring costly replacements.

Electrical Problems

Even a low-impact collision can loosen wires that comprise the various electrical systems that keep your car operating.  Over time, loose wire connections can affect your vehicle’s:

Sound system speakers

No driver likes to be without their tunes.

Brake and tail lights

Drivers behind your car won’t see your tail lights when you’re coming to a stop or traveling in front of them during poor visibility conditions.

An unexpectedly-dead battery

This could leave you stranded alongside the road.

All these potential unseen electrical problems are good reasons to have the wiring checked out at a collision repair shop whenever your car gets rear-ended.

Frame Bending

Your car’s bumpers are plastic that’s been painted to match the rest of your vehicle.  When the bumper gets dented or cracked during an accident, that means the impact’s force may have reached the frame beneath.  Even minor accidents can slightly bend your frame.  Unaddressed frame damage can lead to future safety problems like:

Warning system sensor misalignment

Bent frames can cause cameras and sensors that make up your onboard driver warning and safety systems to be out of alignment, including your air bags.

Reduced frame strength

In the event of a subsequent, high-impact collision, a previously-weakened frame could give way and not protect you as it was designed to.

Whenever your car has sustained any type of damage from a rear-end impact, get the frame inspected promptly at an auto body shop in your area.

Don’t Take Chances After a Rear-End Collision

When your car has been involved in any type of rear-end collision, even when the damage seems superficial, don’t take chances with hidden problems that can jeopardize your safety later.  Instead, bring it to a dependable auto body shop to have the damage inspected, inside and out.  Body shop technicians have the training, experience and equipment to locate and repair underlying issues and get you back on the road promptly and safely again.  Most collision repair shops work directly with insurance companies so you don’t have to, and warranty their work to ensure your peace-of-mind for countless miles after the repairs are done.  To search your zip code now for a better auto body shop in your area, visit: www.carwise.com.  

The period right after you’re involved in a car accident can be confusing and stressful, especially when it’s your first one.  And within a short amount of time you’ll be asked to make some important decisions about your damaged vehicle’s collision repairs.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths floating around that can influence where and how you have your car repaired.  As a car owner, it’s important to know the truth when it comes to getting your vehicle’s appearance and performance promptly and reliably restored like new again.  To keep you from getting fooled, here are responses to 4 of the more common collision repair myths out there.

1. You Must Use a Shop Your Insurance Company Chooses

As an insured driver, you have the legal right to pick any body shop that you want.  Insurance companies would prefer that you go to a less-expensive one, and most providers have agreements with specific shops in a given area to lower repair costs and speed up the process.  But insurance adjusters know that you still can take your car to a body shop of your choosing, and they will honor your decision while covering any accident-related repair costs.

2. Only a Dealer Can Repair Your Car Right  

Misconception number two is that only a dealership that sells the same vehicle make (Ford, Chevy, etc.) as yours has the ability and original (OEM) parts to fix your car the right way.  That’s just simply not true.  Non-dealer-affiliated collision repair shops can order the same parts and their technicians have the training, equipment and experience to work on all makes and models of vehicles… including yours.

3. A Damaged Frame Can’t Be Repaired

Even minor fender benders can cause frame damage, so if this myth were true cars would be getting totaled out by insurance companies all the time.  If the frame was bent but not structurally weakened, it can probably be fixed.  In fact, many newer vehicles have unibody frames which are routinely repairable.  Your best bet is to have your frame inspected at a body shop to assess the damage and then they will repair it if can be done so safely.

4. Insurance Pays for All the Repairs

This final myth is one that many car owners fall for, as it depends completely upon your insurance policy’s terms.  That’s why you should always read your policy over carefully, notably when your insurer has made changes.  If the wreck was your fault, you’ll have to pay a specified deductible up front when picking up your repaired vehicle.  If another driver was responsible, their insurance company should pay all your accident-related repair bills.  For example, “collision” coverage under a policy pays for repairs resulting from the accident, but nothing that existed prior to it.  “Liability only” policies will take care of the other person’s car if you caused the accident, but not cover your repairs.

Collision Repair Shops Nearby are Myth-Busters  

When you’re involved in an accident, don’t fall victim to some of the collision repair myths out there.  Bring it to a reliable collision repair shop in your area instead, where the shop manager can expertly answer your questions about any potential repairs, and what to expect when dealing with your insurance company.  In fact, most body shops work directly with insurance adjusters so that you don’t have to.  Local body shop technicians have the training, experience and equipment to repair your vehicle in a prompt and dependable fashion while getting you safely back on the road again.  And having your car restored right the first time will save you time and money later.  To search your zip code for the best collision repair shops in your area, visit: www.carwise.com now.