Car Checkup: How Bad is the Damage?
If you've been in an accident, the first step is understanding how much your vehicle was damaged. With this knowledge, you can quickly determine how much repair should cost and decide whether or not it is worth it. How can you tell the extent of the damage?
Start with a visual inspection. You can simply walk around your car to see what's broken and what's not. Check for signs of damage, such as dents, scratches, broken lights, and cracked windshields.
Pay close attention to the alignment of body panels; misaligned panels can indicate underlying structural issues. Note any fluid leaks which might suggest damage to the engine, transmission, or cooling systems. After the visual inspection, you should know the type of damage sustained. These are the common types of car damages:
Structural Damage
Damage to a vehicle's chassis is a perfect example of structural damage. Structural damage refers to the harm done to the vehicle's framework, which is its essential skeleton. Examples include a collapsed roof structure, wrinkled quarter panels, and others. If you see these signs, bringing in a professional mechanic for an inspection is best.
In a situation where the chassis or the unibody is beyond repair after a collision and declared a total toss, it is advisable to replace rather than repair. Even after repair, such vehicles may not be able to protect occupants adequately in a future crash, and you do not want to take that risk.
Cosmetic Damage
Cosmetic damage is the best case of damage you want to have after a car accident. This includes any damage that affects the vehicle's appearance but does not impact its functionality or safety. Examples include dents, scratches, paint chips, and minor bumper damage.
Since this kind of damage doesn't affect a vehicle's functionality, there's little to nothing to worry about. These kinds of repairs are usually very affordable and easy to fix. You can get your car back to normal in a short period.
Weather damage
Imagine walking down to your vehicle in the parking lot after a beautiful day at work and facing a damaged car! In some places, cars can be damaged by natural elements such as hail, floods, snow, ice, and extreme heat or cold.
Hail can dent the car's body, crack windshields, and damage the roof. Flooding can cause severe issues, including electrical problems and engine damage, as water infiltrates critical systems. Snow and ice can lead to rusting, mainly if road salt is used for de-icing, and extreme temperatures can affect the car's battery, tires, and fluids.
In the case of damage, you need to understand the cause (specific incident) to know the extent. Some vehicles with weather damage may remain structurally sound with lots of dents, and others may need to be inspected by a professional.
Theft damage
Theft damage occurs when a vehicle is broken into, stolen, or vandalized in an attempted theft. This damage can include broken windows and locks and tampered with ignition systems during hot-wiring attempts.
In some cases, thieves might strip the car of valuable parts such as airbags, stereos, wheels, or catalytic converters. Even if the vehicle is recovered, the repair costs can be significant, especially if the thieves caused extensive interior or exterior damage.
Check for signs of damages with an inspection and contact a repair shop or auto mechanic to fix your car.