Americans are involved in over 6 million auto accidents per year. This alarmingly high number includes everything from very minor accidents to serious or fatal crashes, and everything in between. While accidents are caused by any number of factors, vehicles are designed to absorb a varying degree of impact to keep you and your passengers safe.
Though your vehicle may continue to be in working condition, any collision will affect your vehicle’s appearance and performance, and collision damage (visible or otherwise) should be checked. The most commonly damaged vehicle body parts in car accidents are:
Front & Rear Bumpers
Since most accidents involve at least one vehicle traveling forward, the front bumper is the first and most common part to receive the impact. Bumper damage can also come in the form of scratches, dings, and dents from inattentive driving or even a rogue shopping cart. Like front bumpers, rear bumpers are often on the receiving end of damage. Either from a “fender bender” involving another vehicle, or from simply backing into a post, dumpster or another parked vehicle, rear bumpers get cracked, dented and destroyed fairly often.
Fender
If you’ve heard the term “fender bender” to describe a minor accident, it usually refers to a bumper-to-bumper collision rather than one that actually involves fenders. People often confuse bumpers and fenders, but they are different and serve separate purposes. Bumpers are on the front and rear of the car and are designed to protect it from impacts, while fenders are the frame of the wheel well and prevent tires from throwing dirt and debris at other vehicles and pedestrians. Like bumpers, fenders take the brunt of the damage during impact, and side collisions in particular are what tend to damage fenders.
Hood & Trunk Lid
A crumpled hood is common imagery for car accidents, and dents to the hood or trunk lid can be caused by hail or even stray golf balls. Although some owners may want to write off hood and trunk lid damage as cosmetic, it’s important to have them repaired so they can latch shut properly. A hood or trunk lid that pops open while you’re driving is a surefire way to cause an accident.
Front and Rear Doors
Side impacts are the main cause for door damage. Since modern car doors are designed to protect its passengers in the event of a collision, there are a surprising amount of safety systems in place. If any of your car doors are damaged, they should be repaired or replaced without question.
If you’ve been in a collision, it’s important to have your car repaired as soon as possible by a trusted and certified auto body shop. Adams Collision Service is a family-owned and operated automotive body repair shop that specializes in collision repair. Because quality is a key focus of our repair process, our technicians maintain industry accreditations by attending on-going training and testing. We hold I-Car Gold and ASE Blue Seal of Excellence status, which reflects our dedication to professional and proper repairs – held by very few shops in the northwestern suburbs. Contact us today!