Why You Should Repair a Damaged Bumper
The bumper on a vehicle can take a lot of damage from any number of things, such as shopping carts, debris on the road, and small fender benders. The damage often appears superficial, so many people don't typically make repairs right away to save time and money. However, this is not always the safest thing to do.
When your bumper has dents and cracks, it not only looks bad, but it also causes additional issues you may not have considered. Here are some reasons why you should repair bumper damage sooner rather than later.
You Could Receive a Decreased Resale Value
If you have a damaged bumper and you intend to sell your vehicle, a buyer will be more likely to pass your car for one without damage. A damaged bumper could also indicate you may be hiding additional damage to the car. Unrepaired damage also makes it appear you have been neglectful of your vehicle, which is a huge flag for buyers.
If you do find a buyer willing to purchase your vehicle, in spite of the damaged bumper, you can expect a lower offer than what you want. If you plan to trade the vehicle in with a dealership, you can also expect to get little return if you do not repair the damage.
Your Safety Risks Are Higher
A bumper's job is to absorb the force of anything that hits the vehicle. The goal is to protect the engine compartment, the rear of the vehicle, and most importantly, the people inside. So what may appear as superficial damage to the bumper could actually weaken the overall structure of the vehicle.
Inside the bumper are absorbers. These absorbers are made of a durable plastic material and are located between the metal bumper and the cover. When the absorbers are hit, they direct the force outward and to the bumper bar. The bumper bar is what holds the structure together. It is made from metal and is painted to match the vehicle color.
If you get into a more serious accident and have not repaired the bumper damage, you have a higher risk of injury of your passengers. Your vehicle could also have more damage than it would have had you repaired the bumper. These issues will result in wasted time and money, not to mention potential hospital bills.
You Could Lose Insurance Payments
Suppose you got into an accident and sustained bumper damage. To save money, you left the bumper damage alone, which left your vehicle vulnerable. If you get into another accident, you could then have significant damage to the front end of your vehicle, requiring thousands of dollars to repair.
The insurance company has the right to inspect the vehicle before they issue a payment for your damage. If the insurance adjuster notices that the previous unrepaired damage was a contributing factor to your current damage, they could deny your claim. At best, they may pay for a portion of your expenses, which could be less than what you would have received.
The reason for a smaller insurance payout is due to the uncertainty of the damage. If you were in a car accident and hit in the front, there is not a way to determine how much the vulnerable bumper on your vehicle contributed to the current damage.
A damaged bumper allows more force to damage the front of the vehicle than it would had the bumper been repaired. You could look at this situation like a pre-existing condition. If you already have a problem that contributes to subsequent problems, the insurance company may not want to pay.
If you need any body work done, such as a repairing damaged bumper, please don't put off repairs. Contact us at Olson's Auto Body today. We are happy to assist you.
