Many of us hope that we’ll never get into a car wreck, but we don’t think about the intricacies of what happens afterward. You have to contend with insurance companies, potentially angry fellow drivers, and a number of things that could have been damaged on your car in the process. Understanding what commonly needs repairing after a wreck can ensure that you know exactly what to do if it ever happens. Gathering information from auto body shops, we pinpointed the top five types of common car repairs needed after such a traumatic event.
1- Windshield Replacement
If a car wreck is severe enough, oftentimes there will be a need for glass replacement. Regardless of which window needs repair, this must be done as soon as possible. Glass that has been cracked will only get worse and cause a bigger issue down the road.
Even if it is a window on the driver or passenger side, your visibility is greatly reduced. You put other drivers at risk when driving with broken or shattered glass. Smaller chips will not need a full replacement and can simply be fixed with epoxy resin. Larger damaged areas need to be dealt with by professionals.
2- Headlight Assembly Reinstallation
Considering how wrecks generally happen, there’s a high chance that you will sustain damage to your headlights. Any car accident with enough force will cause the polycarbonate covering to bend and shatter, breaking the light underneath. This can lead to moisture entering the headlight assembly through a damaged seal, or leave wires exposed and damaged.
Depending on how bad the accident was, you’ll likely need to get a full replacement done on the headlight assembly. If the only damage sustained was to the bulb itself, you might be able to replace it yourself. Typically, this is not the case with wrecks, and a full replacement is vital.
3- Alignment Correction
The amount of torque that your vehicle goes through while in the middle of a car accident is enough to severely impact the alignment of your wheels. Without getting checked, this can lead to a reduction in fuel economy, more pronounced tire wear, and a potential accident later down the road.
After a car wreck, it is imperative that you let a mechanic check the alignment of your car. Continuing to drive a vehicle that is misaligned can increase the risk to yourself and anyone else on the road. Unfortunately, this is not something that can easily be checked at home and needs the guidance of a professional eye.
4- Bumper Replacement
Car accidents can completely dent, warp, or crack the bumper. This part of the car is specifically designed to prevent physical damage in lower-speed crashes. But, given enough force and contact, this protection can be completely stripped away.
Once a bumper has been put to the test and has absorbed the impact of another object, it should not be trusted to yield the same results again. If your bumper has been damaged, it’s imperative that you take the vehicle in to make sure that the bumper can still be used.
5- Dent Removal
The majority of car bodies are made from a mixture of steel and plastic. They look practically indestructible until they’re involved in an accident. Although not high up on the list of things that you think of for repairs, dents are a repair that should be handled promptly.
Without fixing the dent in a car’s frame, you leave it open to the potential of rust. Cracks can then begin to form and break down your automobile further. Car owners also take a car in for this issue because it greatly reduces the resale value. Automobile dents should be fixed to prevent structural degradation and to maintain the overall quality of your vehicle.
There are plenty of unknowns when it comes to a car wreck. This makes the situation incredibly overwhelming when it happens. Familiarizing yourself with the most common repairs can prepare you for the moment that hopefully never happens.
