Hidden Vehicle Damage After an Accident

In a big accident, you are bound to see obvious damage to your vehicle. When it comes to minor accidents, you may think your car looks fine and that the damage isn’t severe, but quite often, there is damage that you can’t easily recognise. After an accident, big or small, you should take your car to a repair shop where a professional can check and fix any hidden damage before it gets worse.

Types of Hidden Vehicle Damage

Hidden damage from an accident can cause major issues in the future if the damage is not taken care of quickly. Some damage from minor accidents can be hard to spot, but your car still can show subtle signs of damage after the accident.

Here are a few types of hidden damages to look out for after you’ve been involved in an accident.

Alignment Issues

Body damage can sometimes misalign your vehicle. It isn’t something you can easily spot just by looking at your vehicle, but you will be able to feel a difference when handling and driving your car after an accident.

Misalignment is one of the most common problems in many accidents. Symptoms of misalignment may be:

• Your steering being pulled to one side
• Wobbly steering
• New and odd vibrations
• Noisy steering
• Tire squealing

Poor alignment may lead to other serious issues in the future as it puts your brakes, tires, suspension, and other parts of your car under stress and causes them to wear out more quickly. Therefore, it’s a good idea to address any alignment issues in a timely manner to avoid paying for repairs and replacing other parts of your vehicle sooner than you would have expected.

Frame Damage

Your car’s frame is its main support structure, almost like a human’s skeleton. The frame keeps your wheels aligned, holds the suspension, and supports the radiator, so you should take any damage to your car’s frame seriously. Considering most cars these days have plastic bumpers, there isn’t much protection for the frame during an accident.

If you are having difficulty closing doors or if things aren’t lining up correctly, your car may have internal frame damage. Talking to a collision expert can help you pinpoint the damages and avoid any long-term side effects.

Bumper and Trunk Damage

Hidden bumper and truck damages are the most common issues from a rear-end collision. Some damages are noticeable, but there are a few common types of hidden trunk damage:

• Latch damage
• Difficulty opening
• Leaks and sealing issues

Electrical System Malfunctions

Most vehicles rely on electricity to run, and sometimes an accident can affect the function of your vehicle’s electrical system. For example, loose wire connections can cause lights to flicker or dim, and even affect your brakes, making driving unsafe.

Damage to your electrical system also can be the reason your sound system no longer works after you’ve been in an accident.

Body Damage Leading to Rust

It is easy to look over minor scratches on the surface of your vehicle after a collision. Unfortunately, people tend to neglect minor scratches in hidden areas because it does not affect their car’s appearance.

Despite being unable to see these small scratches, the paint around the area will rub away over time and leave the metal exposed, allowing rust to build up over time. Rust eats away at the metal and weakens your vehicle’s structure. Small scratches are much easier to fix and less costly than replacing rusted parts of your car.

What to Do After An Accident

Accidents will always happen, and when they do, it can be stressful and confusing. There are a few things you can do for your car body repair after your accident:

• Call your insurance provider.
• Take your car to an auto body repair shop and have it inspected for any hidden damages.
• Do not attempt to fix damages yourself as they can be more expensive or possibly dangerous.

Dependable Car Body Repair Near You

When you’ve been involved in an accident, it’s essential for you to seek out professional advice and service from an auto body repair shop soon after your collision. There are times when insurance won’t cover the damages if they are not immediately visible, so getting a second opinion can make all the difference in an insurance report.

Dents and damages aside, your safety is at risk when you have unseen damages that can cause malfunctions or worse accidents. Keep yourself and your passengers safe by choosing a reputable car repair shop.

Caversham Coachworks takes care of everything from insurance, crash, and car body repairs to dent and scratch repairs and many other services. As the leading independent vehicle repair centre in Berkshire and Central Oxfordshire, we promise to offer exceptional service and quality work.

Contact us today for a car body repair reading, or use our free and easy estimator tool.