What Are the Most Common Damages and Repairs After a Car Accident?
Traffic accidents on the road can result in a variety of vehicle damages, necessitating repairs from skilled mechanics. The extent of these damages often depends on the severity of the collision and the manner in which the vehicles were involved in the accident.
In some cases, the car damages are only minor, such as paint scratches or small dents. However, severe car crashes may end in smashed windows, broken headlights, and even areas where the car is completely crushed. If a car is damaged beyond repair, it may get written off, and the driver at fault may be liable for compensation, car repair bills, and rental car responsibility after an accident.
Certain car damages and subsequent repairs are more common than others. In this article, we’re going to discuss the most common car damages and repairs, including obvious physical damages and hidden issues following road traffic accidents.
Dents and Scratches
Although dents and scratches are some of the most minor damages a car can sustain in an accident, they can be frustrating to car owners. Whether you are a car enthusiast or simply use your vehicle to go from A to B, it can be heartbreaking to see dents, scratches, and scuffs on your car.
Thankfully, minor dents and scratches can be quite easy to fix. However, depending on which area of the car is affected, you may need to take your vehicle to a professional body repair shop to resolve dents and scratches.
Most of the time, minor external damages don’t impact the functionality of a vehicle. Dent removal and car body repainting can restore your car’s physical appearance and enable you to drive your vehicle around with pride once again.
Mechanical Damage and Repairs
Even minor accidents, where your car appears unharmed, can result in internal damage to your vehicle’s mechanics. Road traffic incidents can impact various components in a car, including the suspension, wheel alignment, and steering system.
Driving your vehicle with such damages can be dangerous and may put you at risk of another road traffic accident. It can also cause further damage to your car and reduce its overall performance and lifespan. For this reason, it’s important to get your car checked over by a professional mechanic following a car accident to ensure no underlying damages to its mechanics.
Problems with the Airbags
Airbags might seem like a small aspect of your vehicle, but they are extremely important for your safety. If your airbags inflated during a previous accident, they will need to be replaced. Failure to replace deployed airbags puts your safety and the safety of your passengers at risk.
Check your vehicle’s seatbelts for signs of damage after a road traffic accident. You should get them replaced if they’re loose, worn, or ripped, as the functionality of your seatbelts might have been compromised in the accident.
Problems with the Electrical System
Even petrol and diesel cars require electricity to run properly. Road traffic accidents can cause significant damage to the electrical system inside a vehicle, although the extent of this damage may not be obvious at first.
Following an accident on the roads, you may experience issues with your car’s headlights, backlights, and parking sensors. Driving with broken lights or a faulty electrical system is extremely dangerous, and you’ll need to take your car to a reliable mechanic to fix these issues as soon as possible.
Broken Glass
The force of a collision can cause the glass components of your car to crack or smash, including the windshield, windows, and mirrors. Damage to glass is usually obvious, but it’s important to inspect your car thoroughly after an accident to keep your family healthy and safe. You will need to make sure there are no minor cracks in the windows or mirrors that could worsen if left unresolved.
Depending on the extent of the damage to your car’s glass components, the problem might be easy and relatively cheap for a mechanic to fix. However, extensive damage could be a costly (but necessary) repair.
Fluid Leaks
Fluid leaks are a common occurrence following car accidents. Having loose fluids inside your car can damage its components and reduce its performance, which is why identifying fluid leaks as quickly as possible is vital for your and your car’s safety.
It’s not always easy to spot fluid leaks in your vehicle, especially if you have no idea what you’re actually looking for. It’s often safer and easier to take your car to a mechanic who can check over your car, identify leakages, and fix them promptly.
Common fluid leaks include:
- Engine oil leaks – if you don’t address engine oil leaks quickly, it can cause potentially irreversible damage to your vehicle’s engine due to reduced lubrication and increased friction.
- Transmission fluid leaks – the transmission fluid in your car is essential for the performance of its transmission. Leaking fluid in this area of your vehicle can lead to transmission problems and failure.
- Brake fluids leaks – leaking brake fluid reduces the hydraulic pressure inside your vehicle and can damage the brake components. Driving with low hydraulic pressure and leaking brake fluids can reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of the braking system in your car, increasing the risk of accidents and collisions.
- Coolant leaks – the radiator, piping system, and engine inside your car require coolant fluid to stay at the optimal temperature. If this fluid leaks after a car accident, it can cause your car’s engine to overheat, reducing its efficiency and performance and potentially causing severe damage.
Structural Damage to the Car’s Frame
Road traffic accidents and collisions can cause serious damage to the structural components of your vehicle. This type of damage can be detrimental to your car’s functionality and performance and could put your safety at risk.
You’ll need to take your car to a professional for frame repairs, which may involve straightening and reinforcement to restore the car’s structural integrity.
