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3 Hidden Damages That Can Be Caused By Fender Benders

21 March 2017

Michele Kuhn

If you've recently had a fender bender, you may have been relieved if there were no obvious signs of damage. However, it's important to not dismiss any potential hidden damage that can be caused by minor accidents like fender benders. It's always a good idea to have your vehicle checked over by a mechanic and/or an auto body shop after any collision, no matter how small. Here are several surprises that may come up in the future after a minor accident and why it's important to file an insurance claim. 

Windshield Crack

The impact from a minor collision can cause stress fractures to form in the windshield, which may not appear or become obvious until later. If the impact was forceful enough to shift or bend the vehicle's frame, the windshield is at risk of developing a sudden crack at some point in the future. Also, the rubber sealant around the windshield may become damaged as well, which could cause water to infiltrate through.

An auto body shop has special equipment that can help a mechanic determine if the vehicle's frame was affected by the impact. While it's very rare for a fender bender to damage a frame to the point of the vehicle being totaled, any minor damage to the frame should be taken care of to prevent the windshield from suddenly cracking in the future. More importantly, any subsequent accidents, particularly rollovers, could be worse due to the lack of structural integrity of the windshield. Visit an auto body shop or auto glass repair shop to repair your windshield to prevent worse accidents. 

Radiator Leak

The radiator and other parts of the cooling system can be damaged in a fender bender. Sometimes, the damage is so minor that it can be difficult to find a leak. A small pinpoint hole in the radiator or coolant line can eventually cause your vehicle to overheat. You may not see any evidence of a slow or minor leak on the ground, but you may be able to smell the coolant fluid, particularly when the engine is warm or hot. 

A mechanic can give your vehicle a series of diagnostic tests that can read the internal pressure of the various mechanical components of your car. He or she should also examine the various fluids under the hood in addition to the coolant, such as the engine oil and transmission fluid, as they could contain coolant if the impact caused damage to the head as well. 

Suspension

An impact can cause your suspension to be out of alignment. A misalignment can cause your vehicle to drift to one side or the other. It can also cause your car to noticeably shimmy and vibrate. The more these signs of misalignment occur, the worse the misalignment can get. Also, your car will be more susceptible to further misalignment if you hit a pothole or a curb. 

A mechanic can check your car's suspension and alignment. It's important to note that the suspension will show signs of normal wear and tear, particularly in older vehicles. However, a mechanic will be able to tell the difference between damage from an accident as opposed to damage from normal wear and tear. 

It's also important to report the fender bender to your insurance company as soon as possible. That way,  the costs of repairing or replacing parts damaged in the fender bender will be covered by your insurance company. However, your insurance company adjuster may try to say that some damages were not caused by the fender bender, especially since one of their roles is to ensure the insurance company only repairs damages from accidents. For this reason, be sure to have your mechanic correctly document the causes of the damage to your vehicle. 

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