Everything That Needs to Be Checked After a Car Accident (Beyond the Obvious)

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By PAGE Editor

When most people consider what happens after a car accident, they think of the body shop.

You get the dent pulled, bumper replaced, paint color matched up and you're ready to roll. Except…it's not that simple with new cars.

They're loaded with safety technology that can get knocked seriously out of whack when two cars collide.

And if these systems don't get recalibrated…

Your vehicle can look showroom-ready on the outside but be wide open to safety risks on the inside.

What you need to know:

• Why modern cars need more than bodywork after an accident

• The hidden safety systems that can be damaged

• Why automatic emergency braking calibration is important

• Specific checks every car owner should insist on after a collision

Why Modern Cars Need More Than Bodywork After an Accident

Today's cars aren't just cars. They're rolling computers with cameras, radar sensors, and advanced safety systems designed to keep you safe.

These are called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and blind-spot monitoring are all ADAS features that rely on sensors around your car.

Here's the problem…

Even low-speed collisions can knock these sensors out of alignment. Replacing a bumper, windshield, or changing a tire can impact how these sensors operate. That's why ADAS calibration after a collision repair is critical for cars with automatic emergency braking and active safety features.

According to a benchmark study from Revv, an estimated 61% of vehicles coming in for collision repair require some type of ADAS calibration. That means for every two cars that get in an accident, at least one of them requires high-tech safety system calibration after repairs.

Yet most drivers don't even know those systems exist… let alone they can go haywire after getting bumped.

The Hidden Safety Systems That Can Be Damaged After a Collision

It might look like bumper damage and bodywork after your car gets into an accident, but there's plenty going on underneath the surface.

Here are some of the most important systems to pay attention to:

Forward-Facing Cameras

Many modern cars have a camera tucked behind the windshield. Automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and even traffic sign recognition usually rely on that camera. If it shifts during an accident or the windshield needs to be replaced, these features may no longer work.

Radar Sensors

Cars use radar sensors to figure out how close they are to the car in front of them. These are typically found in the front bumper or grill area. Radar helps trigger automatic emergency braking when you get too close. But if your car gets into a front-end collision those sensors can be misaligned with no visible damage.

Blind-Spot Monitoring Sensors

Cars also have sensors in their rear bumper areas to detect vehicles in your blind spot. Any rear-end collision can knock these sensors out of calibration. But when they're triggered at the wrong time or don't trigger at all, drivers become confused and might ignore them altogether.

Parking Sensors and Backup Cameras

Backup cameras and parking sensors are two of the first things to get damaged in a rear-end collision. A cracked backup camera is one thing. But if your camera is slightly askew it could create a false perspective that tricks you into thinking you're clear when you're not.

Automatic Emergency Braking Calibration Is Important (Here's Why)

If you only take away one thing from this article, let it be this:

Automatic emergency braking (AEB) is one of the most valuable safety features on any modern vehicle. If your car has AEB and it wasn't recalibrated after an accident, you're driving around with a seriously degraded safety net.

Studies from the IIHS have shown AEB can cut rear-end crash rates in half. But that safety benefit only applies if it's working properly. And it won't work properly if the sensors and cameras it depends on aren't calibrated correctly.

Ascential Technologies found that non-calibrated vehicles experienced complete loss of certain ADAS safety features. Faulty ADAS calibration led to wildly inconsistent automatic braking distances from one test to another. Only calibrated vehicles showed safe and consistent braking.

If your car has automatic emergency braking, make sure it gets calibrated after any collision. This is the number one thing you should demand.

Checks Every Car Owner Should Perform After an Accident

So, what should you do if your car gets into an accident? Of course, take care of the visible damage. But you should also insist on the following:

Request a Diagnostic Scan Be Performed

Any decent post-collision repair should begin with a diagnostic scan before working on the car AND after the car is repaired. These scans read fault codes from the vehicle's computer systems.

It's the only way to verify if something is wrong with electronic components you can't physically see.

Make Sure ADAS Calibration Was Done

Again, don't assume it happened. Whenever your car gets into an accident and repairs are done, ask to see documentation that ADAS calibration was performed. All ADAS cameras and sensors should be recalibrated to the manufacturer's specs. Learn more about static vs dynamic calibration.

Confirm Wheel Alignment and Suspension Was Checked

Does your car's suspension seem off when you're driving? It may not just affect tire wear. Improper suspension can impact the accuracy of forward-facing sensors and cameras.

Your car's overall geometry should be correct to ensure ADAS systems function properly.

Inspect All Lighting Systems

We all know to check headlights, tail lights, and signal lights. But don't forget about adaptive headlights and automatic high beams. Those are ADAS features too.

Ensure they're operating correctly and aimed properly after any collision repair.

Take It on a Test Drive (With Intent)

When you pick your car up from the shop, don't just drive home and forget about it. Pay close attention to how the ADAS safety features respond when you're driving.

Do you still get alerts when you drift out of your lane? Does your car maintain safe distance with adaptive cruise control? If something feels off, don't hesitate to take it back.

Bring. It. Back.

Bringing Everything Back Together

Car accidents are a headache, but repairing your vehicle shouldn't have to be. When technology is thrown into the mix, even minor collisions can cause serious headaches down the road if proper procedures aren't followed.

Getting dents pulled and paint scraped off might seem like enough, but nowadays cars need much more care after an accident.

You don't want to find out your car's automatic emergency braking isn't working right after you get rear-ended again.

A thorough check of every system should be performed after every collision. Don't be afraid to insist on ADAS diagnostics, recalibration, and everything else listed above.

The seemingly small stuff could end up saving your life.

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