Can I Drive Away After a Car Accident?

Getting rear-ended can be quite a jarring experience, but you’re not alone. These types of accidents happen frequently around the country and although they often don’t result in many injuries, they can cause damages to your vehicle.

If you’ve found yourself in one of these situations in the Plainfield, Indianapolis, and Fishers areas, there are some important things to look for. To help you with the repair process, the pros at the Andy Mohr Collision Center has created this guide on the top damages that can happen to your vehicle after being rear-ended. Let’s jump right in.

Rear-Ended? Look for These Potentially Hidden Damages

Trunk Issues – Since your trunk or liftgate to your cargo area is located in the back, it’s more vulnerable to damages when someone rear-ends you. Check to make sure the lid or gate opens and closes properly. If it pops open while you’re driving, it can cause you to lose sight of what is behind you. It may also be hard to close, have locking issues, or won’t open at all. Additionally, being rear-ended might cause the seal to become faulty, letting moisture into your vehicle.

Not only can these issues be dangerous when driving, but they can also affect the resale value of your vehicle. Make sure to have your trunk or liftgate assessed by a professional technician after being rear-ended.

Wheel Alignment – Hard hits to the back of your vehicle can cause your wheels to become misaligned. This can lead to abnormal tire vibrations, wobbly steering, and your vehicle driving unevenly down the road.

All of these symptoms of unaligned tires can be very hard to keep safe while driving, affecting everything from steering to making it harder to travel down winding roads. Plus, it can cause uneven wear on your tires, which brings on a whole new set of issues. When you’ve been rear-ended, ensure that the alignment is correct before heading back on the road again.

Can I Drive Away After a Car Accident?

Electrical Problems – Even if you haven’t been rear-ended very hard, impacts to the back of your car may cause the wires in your electrical systems to loosen or disconnect. This can lead to small issues, such as your speakers shorting out, to major problems, like your taillights not working. It can even result in a dead battery, which can leave you stranded away from home.

If you’re experiencing any of these issues after being rear-ended, it’s smart to have your electrical system checked out by a professional as soon as possible.

Frame Damage – As the most obvious and easy-to-see damage that happens after being in a rear-end collision, damage to your frame doesn’t just mean the body of the car looks bad. This can lead to other issues in your vehicle, such as reduced frame strength, damages to rear-end cameras and other driving aids, and more. Make sure you have the entire backend of your vehicle inspected when you’ve been crashed into from behind to find all possible frame damage.

Have Your Vehicle Inspected & Repaired at the Andy Mohr Collision Center

Whether you’re in need of a full inspection, body fixes, or repairs to your trunk or electrical system, our certified technicians are here for you around the Plainfield, Indianapolis, and Fishers areas. Make an appointment today to ensure that your car is safe to be on the streets once again.