Body damage on a vehicle often goes unaddressed. After all, it’s just cosmetic and won’t affect safety, performance, or the long-term health of the vehicle, right?
Not exactly. There are a few types of auto body damage you should never ignore, and for good reason. Let’s take a look at them below.
Scratched Paint
Body damage often leaves a scratch, ding, or chip in its wake. If these are deep enough to expose underlying metal to the elements, rust and corrosion can occur over time, severely reducing the vehicle’s lifespan.
Misaligned Paneling
If the damage to your vehicle’s body has left a door, trunk, or hood misaligned, it may not open or close properly. This can become much more than just a simple nuisance. People and items may not be safely secured during everyday commutes, or occupants may find themselves unable to quickly open a door in the event of an emergency.
Bent Frame
While it may look like damage is limited to your vehicle’s visible body, dents may be masking hidden damage to the frame. Always have the frame inspected by trusted professionals and properly aligned when necessary. If your vehicle is still pulling one direction or the other following an accident and realignment, it’s likely the frame has been bent. A damaged frame should never be ignored because it directly compromises the safety of everyone onboard if another collision occurs.
Sounds or Smells
If you notice a peculiar sound or smell when driving your vehicle after it has suffered body damage, there may be additional damage at play. Engine parts can be damaged in a collision, disrupting their functionality and jeopardizing the safety and performance of the vehicle.
Poor Alignment
Not every collision will bend your vehicle’s frame, but every collision has a chance of skewing your vehicle’s alignment. Not only is it unsafe and an annoyance to drive a vehicle with poor alignment, it can also accelerate the wear on your tires.
Have Your Body Damage Inspected at Zimbrick
If your vehicle has suffered auto body damage, schedule an appointment at your nearest Zimbrick Automotive body shop to have it inspected by professional technicians. Our service team can detect any underlying damage to the frame, alignment, or engine parts, and identify any potential problems that should not be overlooked. Zimbrick also offers complimentary online estimates for repairs when you submit photos of the damage with your smartphone.
Don’t ignore your auto body damage—let the Zimbrick Automotive team safely return you and your vehicle to the road.
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