What Kinds Of Damage Should I Check For After A Collision?
Posted on: 6 October 2016
After an auto collision, it's important to assess the damage to your vehicle in order to report everything to your insurance carrier. But the damage often goes beyond what you can see externally. You may wish to take your car to an auto repair specialist so that they can assess the damage more thoroughly. Here are some things they should check for.
Scratches and Paint Damage
The first thing that you and your repair mechanic should look for is damage to the body of the car. It's important to catch scratches early on, especially if they go through to the metal. If the scratches are left on their own, the metal underneath may be exposed and start to rust.
Altered Structure
The auto repair center should also look for subtle changes in the alignment of the car, including the frame and tire axles. If these issues are present, they should be fixed right away as well; a misaligned car may drive more unpredictably and get worse gas mileage.
Tire Tread
If your accident involved a screeching stop, then you might have worn your tires pretty badly. Your mechanic can check the tire tread, which will tell you how much friction is left on the tires. If they have worn through, it's a good idea to replace all tires at the same time to promote safety.
Brake Condition
Similarly, an emergency brake can wear your brakes pretty quickly. You may need new brake pads if your emergency brake caused one of the brake pads to wear unevenly. Again, it's a good idea to replace all brake pads at the same time so that you're not braking unevenly on one side, which could cause the car to turn as you brake.
Maintenance Issues that Spurred On the Collision
If you were partially responsible for the accident, let your auto repair mechanic know the details of your accident so that they can look for any related maintenance issues. For instance, they might want to check out brakes, tires, transmission, and axle alignment to rule out driving issues.
See if your auto repair center is willing to consider a payment plan to relieve the burdens of your car repairs. In the future, it helps to consider collision insurance and auto maintenance coverage to pay for both routine repairs and damage relating to a car accident. For more information, contact local professionals like Benchmark Motors INC.
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