Common Problems Caused By Rear End Collision
If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident where you were hit from behind, your vehicle likely suffered rear-end collision damage. Following an accident, it is important to accurately assess any damages so that you can seek the necessary collision repair and any insurance protections you are owed. While it can be tempting to eye-up your car following the accident and think that there is no need to worry if you don’t see any damage, that is not always the case. Here are the top problems to be on the lookout for following a rear-end collision, many of which can be hidden if you don’t have professional experience spotting them.
Body Damage
The most obvious sign of damage following a rear-end collision is damage to the body of your vehicle. This can include dents and dings for minor bust-ups, or having the bumper or other elements falling off entirely. It is also common to see damage to the housings for your rear signal lights. A collision repair specialist can help you to assess the extent of these damages and determine the cost of repair.
Alignment
One of the most important reasons to get your vehicle checked out by a professional following a rear-end collision is to check for problems with your vehicle’s alignment. If the impact of the other vehicle has led to alignment problems then continuing to drive on it can be costly. Not only does operating your vehicle following the accident mean you are potentially going to cause further damage to your car, but it can also be unsafe, as proper alignment is vital for a car.
Trunk Jamming
A rear-end collision problem that is easy to overlook is damage to your trunk. While you may look at the back of your car following the accident and not see any damage, if you don’t think to test out your trunk you may be in for an unpleasant surprise the next time you try to open it. Even a small bump from behind has the potential to shift the interior structure of the trunk, and this can result in a jam that isn’t outwardly visible from a surface examination.
Transmission
When it comes to damage in an accident that is easy to miss but costly to omit from any claims, your vehicle’s transmission system is near the top of the list. You should always take your car to a collision center following an accident for this very reason. It’s worth taking the time in order to have the peace of mind of knowing you won’t find yourself footing the bill for an expensive repair that would have been covered had you noticed it when dealing with insurance.
Following an accident, it’s natural to hope for the best and it can be encouraging to see no outward damage and think you’re in the clear. It’s still important to take your car into a professional collision repair center to have it examined so that you don’t run the risk of overlooking damage that occurred until it is too late to claim it. Don’t risk it, take your car to a collision center immediately following the accident to get it checked out. You’ll be glad you did if they catch the damage you missed.
