Does Insurance Crash Repair Cover Hidden Mechanical Damage?

If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a major collision, you understand that there will be a degree of disruption ahead. Your vehicle will be off the road for some time as it is repaired, and you will need to deal with the insurance company and its adjuster as things proceed. Yet this particular crash may have caused some unusual damage, and you may wonder whether you are covered in this regard. What do you need to know?

Crash Repairs

As you may know, the modern-day car is designed to deform in the event of an accident. Many of the bodywork parts will collapse and divert much of the energy away from the passenger compartment. It's not surprising, therefore, that a repair bill can be significant as the panel beater will have to readjust the frame of the vehicle and repair or replace many of the affected panels. Unfortunately, however, the force of the incident may also cause some mechanical damage that may not be as obvious.

Hidden Problems

Clearly, components such as wheels and suspension are particularly vulnerable in the event of an accident as they are on the outside of the vehicle itself. These components will automatically be included in any insurance claim as they will have been directly impacted by the crash.

Impact Damage

However, what if your engine has been damaged? You may wonder whether this would be included in the repair bill as it is obviously a very expensive part. In this case, the trained adjuster will determine the dynamics of the accident itself to find out whether the force of the impact was sufficient to stop the engine. If, for example, the impact was directed to the front and the third-party object pushed forward so hard that the engine seized, then this will be included in the overall bill. The impact may have broken the timing chain whilst the engine was still running, and this can often cause catastrophic damage to the interior components.

What to Do Next

If you have any questions and wonder whether certain damage may or may not be included in the insurance repair bill, talk with your representative or the panel beater before work begins. They will be able to double-check your questions and use their knowledge and expertise to come up with an answer. Obviously, you will want the car to be restored to its former glory, and this may include additional mechanical repairs in this case.

If you have recently been in an accident, talk to an auto shop that offers insurance car repair services.