You were in a small fender-bender and the only damage is a dent in the bumper. Not a big deal, right? Not so fast. That little dent can turn into a big problem later. To see why, it helps to understand what your bumper actually does.
What your bumper is for
Just like the bumper cars you rode as a kid, a car’s bumper is built to soak up the force of a low-speed collision. That protects both the people inside and the vehicle itself.
It also shields important parts of your car, including the hood, grille, fuel system, exhaust and cooling system. Think of it as bubble wrap for your vehicle. If any of those components break, your car may not run, or at least not run well. A properly installed bumper helps keep a collision from turning into an expensive repair.
Why a small dent is worth fixing
Picture packing your good dishes in bubble wrap. The bubbles keep them from chipping when something bumps the box. But once one bubble pops, the ones around it pop more easily, and eventually a plate cracks.
Your bumper works much the same way. It usually takes the hit in a minor accident and may come away with just a dent or two, so plenty of drivers decide it isn’t worth repairing. Like that first popped bubble, though, the dent leaves the bumper weaker, and the next collision, even a minor one, can do far more damage.
The safety risk
Ignoring a small dent could be the difference between a few minor repairs and a rebuilt engine. Worse, a damaged bumper may not absorb a future impact properly, which raises the chance that you or your passengers get hurt. For more on this, read Freeman Collision’s article, 3 Reasons Why Minor Bumper Damage Should Not Be Ignored.
Hurt in a low-speed crash? Even minor collisions can cause injuries. Accident Care and Treatment Center in Oklahoma City has treated auto accident injuries for more than 20 years, and it’s all they do. Call (405) 842-3209 or visit AccidentCare.com.