How a Minor Accident Can Cause Severe Damage to Your Car

Even the most minor fender can cause significant damage to your car. Learn what to keep an eye out for with your vehicle after an accident with our guide.

Have you been in a fender bender recently? It may not seem like a big deal, but even a minor accident can cause severe damage to your car, and we’ll explain how in our short explainer.

Bent Frame

Even if you’re oblivious about cars and how they work, you still understand that the vehicle’s frame is vital to the car running correctly. Unfortunately, even a slight collision can bend the structure of a vehicle and cause massive problems and make it dangerous to drive.

Pro Tip: If you’re driving and feel your car pulling in one direction, it could be the result of a bent frame.

After an accident, no matter how minor it may seem, you should always walk around the car and check the frame for any severe damage. Look for any cracks or creases in the frame—if you find any, you’ll want to bring it into the shop immediately. Also, you’ll probably want to get your car towed, as driving a vehicle with a bent frame is dangerous.

Dented Bumper

A dent on your bumper isn’t a big deal, right? After all, isn’t that what bumpers are supposed to do—absorb and deflect damage from other parts of the car?

Yes, on its own, a dented bumper isn’t a huge risk—but a dented bumper could hide deeper, more significant crack. Get your vehicle and repair or replace the bumper immediately to ensure it’s structurally sound.

Transmission Problems

Transmission problems are prevalent in all-wheel and rear-wheel-drive cars involved in fender benders. Even if the collision is only a few miles an hour and looks like minor cosmetic damage, deeper transmission problems could linger.

If you notice your car accelerating more slowly than usual or sounding noisier and clunkier between shifts after an accident, it could be a sign of transmission problems. Transmission problems will only compound the longer you wait to fix them, so if you suspect damage, take it to a trusted auto shop immediately.

Electrical System Failure

Nowadays, the electrical system is more vital to the overall function of vehicles than ever before. Sometimes, in newer cars, it can feel like you’re driving a computer!

But even in seemingly insignificant fender bends, the electrical system can suffer damage like a battery connector coming loose. When this happens, electrical components malfunction, and the car battery can slowly drain until it’s dead. There’s not much the average person can do about a vehicle’s electrical system since it’s so advanced and intricate. However, if you suspect system malfunctions, don’t hesitate to bring it to the professionals.

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