Why Your Cars Body Might Not Show Signs of Collision Damage
If you have been in a car accident of any magnitude then the first thing you will check is for external damage. You probably want to see just how much you are going to have to spend to fix it. Many people are then relieved to find that the exterior damage is very minimal and think they have caught a lucky break. The truth is that often auto body collision damage is hidden from sight unless you know what to look for.
Here are a few reasons why you still need auto body collision repair even if it looks like, on the surface, your car has survived mostly unscathed.
Protective Measures Gone
One reason why cars might not seem like they are all that damaged after an accident is precisely because they were built to absorb impact and collisions to protect you. However, these protective features, such as your bumper, crumple zone, and internal strength of the metallic body, are not built to withstand impacts again and again. After every collision, you need to make sure that your car is still able to be driven safely. If some of these inbuilt designs are damaged, you will need to have them repaired before you can get out on the road again.
Alignment
Bad tire alignment is one of those post-accident problems that aren't that obvious when you look at it from the outside but becomes increasingly clear when you drive the car. All it takes is a sudden jolt or quick stop for your alignment to get jarred out of place, and any sort of accident will be a prime candidate for this. If your alignment is out of line then your tires will behave strangely. This can cause you to swerve and move out of position, which is very dangerous when out on the road.
Internal Pipes and Wires
There are several dozen yards of wires and pipes running throughout your car, and in ordinary usage, they are very safely built to withstand all the bumps and humps that your car will go over in a day. However, in a crash, it is not uncommon for them to get cut on sharp objects that they have been pushed into due to a collision. This can lead to a loss of electrical function, cooling, or even the ability to break. Never get out on the road again after a crash before you have had your pipes and wires checked out by an auto body collision repair contractor.