Why It's Important to Look for Hidden Damage Following a Rear-End Collision
As people become more distracted behind the wheel, the number of rear-end accidents across Australia is on the rise. Being such a victim, you may be nursing a sore neck after your car was hit at a traffic light, but you will also be focused on getting a quick repair. It is nevertheless important to ensure that there is no hidden damage and that the repair is completed by a professional, as otherwise, problems could arise in the future. So what should you be thinking about here?
Risks Following Impact
A rear-end collision can often be significant and can, in certain circumstances, cause more problems than damage elsewhere. In a front-engined and front-wheel drive car, most of the mechanical "hardware" is at the front of the vehicle, and the chassis frames are strengthened considerably here in order to accommodate the bulk. This is not the case at the rear of the car, as it will typically only house the boot and (sometimes) the fuel tank. While the tank is normally designed to help protect it from a collision like this, the area around the boot may sustain significant damage.
Typically, the chassis rails on a vehicle run all the way from the front bumper to the back, and they are also reinforced to an extent. Yet they will probably move out of place following a heavy impact, and as they do so, this may cause damage further inboard.
Further Investigation
Consequently, it's important for somebody with a trained eye to have a look at the vehicle carefully once certain panels have been removed. They will need to see if damage has been caused underneath the rear seats and if so, this will have to be addressed before any other work can begin. In the meantime, it may be necessary to attach the vehicle to a mechanical device to reset the chassis rails and other peripherals. A panel beater will be able to do this and refer to manufacturer-recommended measurements before they can repair or replace any other damaged panels.
Additional Worries
If the frame of the car has been twisted by the impact of the collision, it is very important to ensure that everything is subsequently straightened. Otherwise, the car may not handle correctly and the rear tyres may wear down far more quickly than they should. Hand over this work to a professional panel beater and they will take care of all these details as a matter of course.
