Wednesday, September 26, 2012

What You Need To Check On Your Car After A Collision

If you've been driving for a few years, the chances are you've been involved in an accident of some sort at some stage. Indeed, that sense of dread you get the moment after you've collided with another car certainly stays with you. However conscientious and considerate a driver you are, there are bound to be times when you simply can't legislate for the ill-considered and ill-timed actions of other road users. After all, it only takes a poorly-judged lane change to result in a serious accident. It's important to keep a level head in these situations if you can, however.

According to CNN, car accidents can happen when drivers least expect them - and even the calmest motorists can suddenly be thrown into confusion in the immediate aftermath. The first step to take following a collision is of course to ensure that everyone in the car is uninjured. You may feel the need to call the emergency services depending on the severity of the accident. You should try to avoid inadvertently admitting guilt in the moments after a car crash. It can be difficult to get your bearings again but you should try to ensure you don't end up accepting the blame for a collision that turns out to be someone else's fault.

A guide from Wikihow.com recommends carrying out thorough checks to your vehicle following an accident, so that you know precisely what needs to be repaired.

Before you start giving your car the once-over, it's a good idea to check its history. This will give you a clearer idea of what repairs have been carried out in the past, and whether it has been involved in any accidents in the past.A visual inspection of the vehicle is essential and can help you get a better idea of what needs to be repaired. Take a good look at the bodywork and bumpers of the vehicle and keep a close eye out for any cracks, scratches or indentations. Bumpers in particular can break easily as they're made of plastic, and any damage to them could be an indication of other problems. Make sure you have a good look at your windscreen, looking in particular for chips, cracks or webbing.

Take a look at the gaps between bodywork panels to check whether they're properly aligned. It's quite common for gaps to appear between doors and panels following an accident, and these kinds of problem will obviously need to be resolved relatively quickly. Checking thoroughly for signs of damage is a very important task to carry out following an accident. You might not realise the extent of the damage at the time, as problems can emerge almost unnoticed.

Again, depending on how severe the crash was, you may find that you need to have a range of repairs carried out on your car - such as windscreen replacement, for example - and this can set you back a pretty penny. Of course, it's always advisable to take your vehicle to a professional if you've been involved in an accident. That way, they can cast an expert eye over the vehicle and let you know precisely what needs to be fixed - and how much you can expect to pay for it.

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