Category: Accident

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Minor Auto Body Damage

When your vehicle is damaged in a collision, you might worry about those repair costs. If the damage is minor, you could be tempted to ignore it. However, even those minor scrapes and dents can lead to problems down the road. In any case, you will want to bring your vehicle to an experienced auto body repair center for an inspection. When the issues are addressed immediately, you can avoid many of those long-term problems. Plus, repair work ensures your vehicle looks and performs great throughout the years. Here are a few reasons why you should never ignore those minor dents and scratches on your vehicle.

Don’t Procrastinate on Those Repairs

Many people look at that minor damage on a vehicle, and they think it is no “big deal.” You might have other matters in your life, such as juggling responsibilities with work and family. The thought of leaving your car in the shop might seem like a hassle that you just don’t want to face. However, that procrastination can lead to costly repairs down the road.

Most minor car repairs can be completed in a short time without spending additional money on the vehicle. In some cases, your insurance might cover the majority of the expenses. Unfortunately, many car owners postpone these vital repairs. As previously stated, when you put off a minor body damage repair, it is never a good idea for your vehicle or budget.

Prevent Additional Damage

When you ignore minor damage to your vehicle, it can often lead to additional damage to the exterior of your car. The exterior plays a significant factor in determining the value of your car. If there is a minor dent or scratch, that damage can become worse over time. In fact, it only takes a little dent to break the clear coat of your vehicle to start the rusting process. For those proactive vehicle owners, you can maintain the value of your car and prevent any worsening problems by getting that body damage repair completed immediately.

Maintain the Appearance of Your Vehicle

If your car has a slight scratch or dent, that damage can affect the appearance of your vehicle. When the dent is severe and affects the paint, you might be looking at problems with corrosion around the damaged site. In most cases, a professional body shop has the tools to fix these problem areas quickly. Many times they can repair the problem in less than a day. When you have so many options available for a fix, why should you delay getting that minor damage repaired?

Avoid Lowering Your Vehicle’s Value

You might not think that that minor dent is a big deal now, but it will become an issue when you sell or trade-in your vehicle. A dent could signal that your car was involved in an accident, and many people will avoid purchasing these vehicles. Along with that, those unsightly dents and scratches can show that you just don’t care to maintain your car’s appearance. As a result, you will get less than the asking price. This lower price will also extend to those who trade in a vehicle at a dealership. If you want to get the best value for your car, then you need to get those minor issues fixed on your vehicle.

Prevent Further Accidents

While a dent on your car might seem like no big deal, it could be a symptom of more significant problems under the surface of your vehicle. If you want to assess the damage to your car, you should always make an appointment at your local body shop. When you repair those minor scratches and dents, you can avoid any potential accidents to your car.

For example, if you avoid fixing your bumper, it can lead to damage. A small scratch or dent can weaken the structural integrity of that component and compromise the safety of you and others on the road. If you are involved in another collision, all those safety features could be compromised, leading to severe injuries or death.

Filing an Insurance Claim

You could be tempted to skip the insurance claim for that minor damage, but that can cause issues in the future. If your bumper was damaged and you don’t fix it, the damage could be discovered down the road in the event of another accident. If your insurance company finds that unrepaired damage, they could deny your claim. In some cases, the insurance company will cover minor damage without increasing your rates.

Don’t Ignore These Repairs

While you already know that you shouldn’t avoid minor repairs, some need to be addressed immediately, such as:

Bad Alignment: If you have hit the curb with your car, you might notice that the steering wheel feels “off.” You might control the vehicle by adjusting your driving habits, but this problem will worsen over time. Along with that, misalignment can wear down your tires.

Taillight or Headlight Damage: Any damage to these areas must be completed as soon as possible. In many cases, these lights are required by law to be in working order. In addition to getting a ticket, it is dangerous to drive with this broken equipment. Without properly working lights and headlights, you could cause a serious collision.

Paint Scratches: Your paint protects your vehicle’s structure from rust. If you avoid these repairs, the metal underneath the surface can become damaged. Once rust settles into the metal frame, it becomes a costly repair to try to fix.

Auto Body Shop Near Me

If your vehicle has been damaged in a collision, you want to have an experienced auto shop complete those repairs. At Elmer’s Auto Body, we have the equipment and technicians to get your vehicle back on the road, and we will quickly take care of those minor repairs. In some cases, dent and scratch repairs can be completed in as little as a day. We will restore your vehicle back to its original condition. You can schedule a consultation for your vehicle by giving us a call at (856) 218-0202.

Protect Your Nissan With Certified Collision Repair

It’s never pleasant to think about the possibility of a vehicle collision. These kinds of things can do a lot of damage, both to the vehicles themselves and to the people riding inside of them. Although we are not able to help with that second part, we can certainly help you to protect your Nissan with certified collision repair. Anything less is simply not good enough. Let’s talk a little bit about why this certification is so important when repairing a Nissan vehicle.

Why You Should Stick With A Certified Collision Specialist

There are a number of good reasons for sticking with a certified shop. First and foremost, let’s talk about the warranty issue. Nissan vehicle warranties will pretty much always stipulate that only certified mechanics can work on these products. Otherwise, the terms of the warranty will be considered null and void. This is a big problem because, if you find a defect or some other manufacturer problem with your vehicle, those non-certified repairs will cause your claim to be automatically denied.

There is also the issue of using the right parts. Most collision repairs will require you to purchase a new part or two, and some may require more than that. This is where many non-certified and low-standard body shops will see an opportunity to scam you. By charging you for a premium part and ordering a cheap aftermarket piece of junk, they can pocket the difference and make some extra cash from you. Needless to say, reputable and certified shops are not known for that sort of behavior. You should always make sure that your body shop uses OEM parts with lifetime warranties for each one.

Finally, we have the problems that come from specialized tools. Many vehicles will require specialized proprietary tools for proper repair jobs, and these tools can be very expensive. In fact, some of them can’t even be sold to non-certified shops and mechanics at all! However, certified mechanics and shops can get these tools at a lower cost, making it much more practical to buy them. Thus, going with a certified shop will ensure that only the correct and approved tools are used on your vehicle.

Nissan Vehicles Require More Specialized Work Than Most

There are actually some mechanics that will refuse to work on Nissan vehicles, as surprising as that might be. This is because they tend to use a lot more advanced engineering in their products and this can be a real problem for substandard mechanics. However, any shop that turns away your Nissan is probably not worth visiting in the first place.

One good example of this superior technology is Nissan’s “Safety Shield 360” system. By using a combination of sensors, cameras, radar, and sonar, the car can basically sense the presence of any other vehicle that gets too close. If such a thing happens, it will automatically slow or stop the vehicle with no input from the driver. If your car is equipped with this option, you must definitely avoid any shop that isn’t completely certified by Nissan. Just think about this: What will a low-tier mechanic do if he is forced to work on a radar or sonar system? Chances are, they won’t have a clue.

How To Recognize A Certified Nissan Collision Center

If you are trying to find the best Nissan mechanic, it pays to shop around and look at the details. For one thing, you should ask to see credentials and certs long before they ever touch your vehicle. Any shop that is hesitant or unwilling to show these credentials should be crossed off the list immediately. Remember that you are a paying customer and you have a right to know what kind of service you are buying.

That is the best way to begin, but you shouldn’t stop there. For instance, Nissan’s standards require that a Nissan-certified collision repair facility should be clean, well-organized, and professional-looking. If the place looks like your neighbor’s dirty garage, that isn’t a good sign at all.

You can also ask for some paperwork relating to their last inspection. Nissan, working through various third-party companies, will carry out periodic inspections of every shop in the Nissan-certified collision network. If they aren’t up to the standards, their licenses and certifications can be pulled. Thus, you should ask to see the results of their last inspection, as that will really tell the tale better than anything else.

Be Careful About Insurance Company Recommendations

In many cases, insurance companies will want their policyholders to visit one of their approved shops. However, this can be a bad idea in some cases. Your insurance company doesn’t determine the terms of your warranty and they are not necessarily interested in giving you the best quality. They recommend certain shops for financial and liability reasons, so those shops may not be fully approved by Nissan. The important thing here is to ask plenty of questions and vet the mechanic just like you would do with any other.

Post-Repair Scanning

Nissan requires post-repair scanning whenever one of their vehicles is repaired. This is something you should ask about, as it is another good way to recognize a high-quality body shop. If they are skimping out on the scan, who knows what else they might be forgetting?

Conclusion

If you want to get the best collision repairs for your Nissan, you might be asking yourself: “Where can I find the best auto body shop near me?” For those of you in South Jersey (or any adjacent area), Elmer’s Auto Body is the answer you seek. We are properly certified in all areas of Nissan service and we aren’t shy about proving that fact to all potential customers. You have every right to see our credentials, so we will never be offended at that prospect. To find out more (or to employ our expert services), feel free to call us at (856) 218-0202.

Why GM Collision Certification Matters

General Motors is one of the largest vehicle manufacturers on the planet. Brands such as Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac have been absorbed by GM, making them a very multi-faceted company. Of course, any of these vehicles can easily be involved in a collision. Even if you are the safest driver in the world, the mistakes of another driver can cause the same level of damage. For those who find themselves in this situation, it is important to take your vehicle to a shop with a GM collision certification.

How Hard Is It To Get A GM Collision Certification?

Unlike some certifications of this kind, a GM collision certification requires a fair amount of education and time. As part of the GM collision certification program, the license holder must become familiar with a wide variety of vehicles and systems, including (but not limited to):

Engine repair
Transmission repair
HVAC repair
Brakes
Steering
Electrical work/ wiring
Body work of all kinds

Of all these criteria, that last one is probably the most important. In the event of a collision, the body is normally the first part of the car to feel the impact. With the plastic-like bodies found on many modern cars, whole sections can be crumpled like a tin can. Needless to say, most collision repairs will begin with the bodywork.

Why Gm Collision Certification Matters

There are several factors that make it important to use a certified body mechanic. First of all, a certified mechanic will be more familiar with the details and needs of your vehicle. As such, they will be far more likely to do things right the first time. Secondly, taking your car to a non-certified shop can (and probably will) void the warranty. So, unless your warranty doesn’t matter to you at all, you pretty much have to stick with a GM-certified collision shop.

On a lesser note, asking for a GM-certified collision specialist is a good way to filter out the unprofessional choices. Some shops are simply not operating with a high degree of professionalism, and these will almost certainly be non-certified. By demanding to see that collision cert, you can immediately see who is serious and who is not. A shop that isn’t likely to be around in a year or two isn’t going to care about certs, so a lack thereof should be considered as a red flag.

The Importance Of Using The Right Parts

There is another reason that you should avoid non-certified body shops, and it is a very practical one. When you go with a certified shop, you can be sure that they will only use original GM parts. At the very least, they will use parts that have been approved by GM, even if they aren’t 100% original.

On the other hand, many disreputable shops will make use of cheap aftermarket parts to make some extra money. Basically, they charge you for a premium part and then order the cheapest part that they can find. Of course, the cheapest option probably won’t be approved by GM. This allows the crooked mechanic to pocket the extra money that would have been spent on a high-quality part. If you really want to be sure, ask for the part number or product code on any replacement part that your body shop may use.

The Importance Of Using The Right Tools

If you have ever tried to do some DIY mechanic work (particularly on foreign-made cars), you may have noticed that some tasks will require specialized tools. These are what most authorities call “proprietary tools” and that means they are not so easy to acquire. In some cases, you can’t even get the right tools for a repair job unless you are certified by the company that made the car. In other cases, getting the right tools might cost a non-certified mechanic hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of course, for those who are qualified, it is easier to get those specialized tools and do the job correctly. While it still isn’t cheap, it is a lot more realistic.

You can bet that auto companies do this sort of thing on purpose. They don’t want just anyone working on their vehicles, so they make it difficult for non-certified mechanics to do that work. Some people think that they do this in order to “screw” the customer, but this doesn’t make much sense if you think about the particulars. The auto company doesn’t really make any money by forcing you to visit a mechanic (unless you go to a dealership, which many people will avoid due to the higher costs). In reality, these specialized tools are used to try and filter out substandard mechanic work.

Don’t Trust Your Vehicle To Anyone Else

Here at Elmer’s Auto Body, we only employ the best mechanics that we can find and all of them must be properly certified. If you happen to be within our service area and you need some collision repair, you can stop by anytime and see what we have to offer. We have no problem showing our credentials and certs to any customer, as you have a right to know what kind of people you are hiring. Your vehicle is important to you, and it’s equally important to us.

Conclusion

Right now, you might be asking, “where can I find the best auto body shop near me?” If you are in or around South Jersey, Elmer’s Auto Body shop is the answer to your question. We pride ourselves on doing the most professional work because we value our customers very highly. We understand that a vehicle collision is a traumatic event and that most people simply want to get it behind them. If you would like us to help you do exactly that, feel free to call our shop at (856) 218-0202.

What Kind of Damages Can Your Car Suffer In A Front-End Collision?

Needless to say, there are many ways in which your car can suffer from a head-on collision. Those are some of the most dangerous auto accidents and they can easily result in injury or death for the occupants of the vehicle. However, we are going to focus on vehicle damage today, as this is much easier to fix. If you find yourself in this situation, it is very important to be prepared. Not only do you need to have some money set back for the repair costs, but you should also make sure that you have asked yourself the crucial question: “Who is the best auto body shop near me?”

Engine Damage

This is one of the most severe problems that can result from a collision, and it happens a lot. The engine is located in the front of the vehicle, so it will be one of the first components to suffer an impact. Sometimes, the parts that are situated in front of the engine (like the radiator and fan) can be shoved back into the engine itself, causing terrible damage.

The engine is like the beating heart of any vehicle, so it should always be the first repair priority. In most cases, an engine that has suffered serious collision damage will need to be removed and replaced. This is never easy or cheap, but it can be a lot easier and more affordable if you employ the right body shop.

Body And Frame Damage

As the name implies, a body shop specializes in repairing the outer shell of the car (commonly called the “body” of the car). It’s pretty much impossible to suffer a collision without some kind of body damage, and that is why body shops are so easy to find. Most body problems can be fixed, although there is a question of how much it will cost. Obviously, dents and scratches aren’t usually expensive to fix at all, but major body damage can be another story.

If your car has a “unibody” design (i.e., a body that is all one piece), that can make things a little more difficult. With these designs, you can’t just swap out a panel and fix common problems. Still, body problems don’t tend to be that bad.

Frame problems, on the other hand, represent a serious threat to the structural integrity of the car. That’s a fancy way of saying that your car won’t hold together without a whole frame. A hard collision can certainly break parts of the frame, especially the thinner parts around the windows. Bending and twisting, however, are both more common than flat-out breakage. These kinds of repairs are so crucial that you should only trust them to be the best.

Windshield Damage

Windshields are definitely some of the most fragile parts of any vehicle, and the reason is obvious: They have to be made of glass. Thankfully, this is not quite as dangerous as it may seem. Windshield glass is made with vinyl layers in which the glass is held. Thus, if the glass breaks, it will not fly into a million pieces. Thus, it will crack and “spiderweb” without shattering. That being said, an extremely sharp impact can be enough to overcome that technology. In any case, there is pretty much only one remedy for a damaged windshield and that is a replacement.

Wheels, Suspension, and Steering

These components are also very likely to suffer damage in the event of a collision. Your wheels are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, so they suffer a lot of wear and tear anyway. To put it simply, your wheels are more likely to suffer damage because they are carrying all the weight. Of course, the suspension system gives them a hand, and it is also more vulnerable to damage as a result.

When we talk about the wheels, we also need to talk about that which controls them. The steering system of your car is also located in the front compartment (although the exact location varies). Regardless of design, the steering system has to transfer force to the wheels and make them react.

Now, imagine what happens when your front end is struck at a high speed. Everything in the front is going to go backward, and the thinner pieces of the steering system make them unlikely to win that contest. If your front wheels are bent or twisted inwards, anything connected to them is also likely to be damaged.

Fire Damage

Before we even talk about this, we need to dispel a common Hollywood myth: Vehicles do not usually catch fire or explode after a collision, even a serious one. That being said, fires can occur in some cases. You have probably seen a vehicle fire at least once in your life. If not, just do a quick internet search and you’ll see that it does occasionally happen.

In most cases, this occurs because of ruptured fuel lines. Your fuel pump constantly pumps a stream of highly flammable liquid (gasoline, of course) into the engine. If the line carrying that gasoline is ruptured, gas will spray all over the place until the vehicle is shut off. If yours is one of those unlucky cases, you are probably looking at much more extensive repairs.

Conclusion

No matter which one of these problems you may have, you can count on the people at Elmer’s Auto Body to correct them. We have been doing this for over 70 years and there are very few problems we haven’t seen. Collision repair allows you to get your vehicle back on the road and get on with your life, but you need the right body shop if you expect to get good results. If you would like to employ our services or just know more about our business, feel free to call us at (856) 218-0202. We look forward to giving you the great service for which we are known.

Why Small Dings Can Pose Big Problems

When you think about all the things that can happen to your car, a small ding on the door or roof might not seem like a big deal. Many vehicle owners tend to put off repairing tiny dents because the damage seems to be purely cosmetic. However, a dent, no matter how small, is still exterior damage to your car, and it can have a negative impact on the vehicle. That is why even a small ding should be repaired by a professional auto technician.

Today, we’re going to discuss some of the reasons why getting a dent repaired is important.

Dents Harm The Exterior

Many people assume that a dent is cosmetic since most are small enough to be noticed. A ding is more trouble than it seems, though. Even the slightest auto body damage can decrease the structural integrity of a vehicle and affect the paint. Some dents can remove paint from the area entirely, opening your car up to a slew of issues, including moisture and sun exposure. That’s not good. Your car could end up developing rust in that area.

Dings Mask Other Problems

Dents are usually the result of an impact or collision. That could be the impact from a piece of hail or a tree branch. It could be from a light fender bender. You might even look at the ding in your car and be thankful that’s the only thing that happened. But let’s be honest. Even a low-speed collision can cause damage to your vehicle.

The problem is that dings and dents tend to hide other damages that are far less visible. For instance, if you get bumped while backing out of a parking spot, the point of impact could be bent, or the wheels could end up misaligned. While you don’t see an extensive amount of crumpling, the issues caused by such a collision will adversely affect your vehicle down the line.

When you drop your car off for a service, be sure to tell the technician that your car has been in an accident, no matter how minor. They will know to check for any hidden damages around the dents and scratches.

Dents Diminish Your Car’s Value

People are keeping their cars for longer, but that doesn’t mean you might not be tempted to trade in your vehicle down the road. As you go through life, you might own several more cars.

How does a dent relate to trade-ins, you ask? It’s simple. When a car has cosmetic damage, it is going to have a reduced value than a car without damages. If you plan on ever selling your car or trading it in, you should consider patching up those dings and dents before visiting the dealership.

The return on your investment is high. Fixing a dent isn’t as costly as it would be to try and sell a dinged-up car. Besides, having a car in good condition increases the value, meaning you could recoup the whole cost of the repair—and then some!

Dings Are Easier to Fix Early On

You might think that a dent or scratch on your vehicle doesn’t need immediate attention, but we’ve already outlined a number of reasons why you should get it fixed as soon as possible. Letting a dent go unattended for any period of time is like leaving an open wound uncleaned. The issue is only going to worsen and spread, right? It’s the same with a dent. Over time, the damage will get more severe, and the scratched paint will be harder to maintain.

As the damages advance, the appearance of your car diminishes. Not only that, but untreated dents turn into expensive defects that take a lot more time and money to repair. In other words, if you notice a new dent or ding someone on your vehicle, don’t wait. Take it to a trusted auto body repair shop near you. The smaller the ding, the easier it is to resolve.

Conclusion

There is so much that could happen to a car that a ding seems moot. Yet, those tiny dents can actually cause major issues and be expensive to repair if you don’t take care of them quickly. So be sure to keep an eye out for new dents.

Does your car have dents, dings, and scratches? Don’t worry. We can help. At Elmer’s Auto Body, we use methods like paintless dent repair, perform touch-ups, and have a crew of highly trained professionals to get the job done. Your car will look like it just drove off the dealership lot when we’re finished. Give us a call to schedule an appointment with us today!

5 Steps to Take After Witnessing a Car Accident

When you are on the road, you need to pay attention to traffic. In some cases, you could witness an accident involving other drivers. What should you do? Your first instinct might be to drive away and forget about what you saw. However, you need to put yourself in the other drivers’ position. You want to help out and give some assistance to those involved in the accident.

If you are a good citizen, you can stop your vehicle and provide some assistance. However, good intentions could make the situation worse for all of those involved in the accident. With a few tips, your actions can help to ensure the safety of others and provide the best information to law enforcement. Here are the top five steps you should take after witnessing an accident on the road.

1 – Get Out of Harm’s Way

If you just witnessed a car accident, you should pull off to a safe area before attempting to help anyone. After an accident, there could be coolant, metal debris, broken glass, and leaking fuel around the vehicles. You also need to watch out for passing cars. Make sure to stay about 100 feet from the accident scene and turn on your hazard lights.

Along with that, keep a far distance to provide room for emergency personnel to reach the vehicles. If the cars are smoking, move everyone away from the area. This could be an indication that the vehicles will explode.

2 – Dial 911 and Provide Details

When there is an accident, you need to contact emergency personnel right away. You should never assume that others have called for help. The drivers may be shaken up from the experience or are unable to call the police. Make sure to call 911 and explain the situation to the operator calmly. You can provide your contact information, the location of the accident, the number of vehicles involved in the accident, and if there are possible injuries.

You always want to stay calm and collected. This is not a time to panic. With a detailed description, operators can dispatch the appropriate emergency services. You will be offering aid to those who might not be able to reach out to 911.

3 – Check the Victims

It is also important to stay calm on the scene. You should walk over to the involved vehicles and check on the accident victims. Make sure to check the backseat for any infants or small children. You will want to ask the drivers to place the car into “park” and turn off the ignition. It is not your responsibility to determine fault at the accident scene, but you need to focus on the safety of all the involved parties.

If there is a fire risk, you need to try to get everyone away from the scene. However, you should not attempt to move a person who is injured. You can provide comfort and reassure them until medical personnel arrives on the scene. If the person has significant injuries and you move the individual, it can lead to additional harm. Unfortunately, some people may file a lawsuit, which could lead to you being held responsible for causing injuries.

If there is no danger, you might be able to assist in other ways, such as:

Offer your mobile phone to the victims. They may be able to call their loved ones and friends to let them know about the accident.
Ask to take pictures of the damage and write down details of the accident.
Give some comfort to the accident victims, especially if children have been involved.

4 – Speak To the Police

Whether you were involved in a car accident or just witnessed it, this situation can be very upsetting. You need to stay on the scene and wait for the police. When they arrive, you can let the officer know that you are a witness to the accident. In some cases, witnesses can help to diffuse any tense situation, especially if the driver’s reckless behavior caused the accident.

You want to provide law enforcement with a relevant and honest account of the details that led to the accident. You don’t want to accuse anyone of causing the accident. In some instances, that could lead to a backlash towards you. It is the officer’s job to investigate the accident. You should also provide the officer with your name and contact information.

When medical personnel shows up, let them know if anyone needs assistance. By speaking to the police and other authorities, you want to make sure that you are completely truthful about the accident.

5 – Make Yourself Available for a Later Interview

After you have provided your statement and other details, you might be contacted at a later date. Insurance adjusters, police officers, and medical authorities could call to ask you to recount the incident. You always want to honestly and factually explain what you observed at the time of the accident.

With these tips, you can safely assist those drivers and passengers involved in an accident. It is always great to act as a responsible witness on the scene of the accident. You never know, but someone might repay the favor for you.

Need an Auto Body Shop Near Me?

If you have been involved in an accident, it can be a stressful time. First, you need to make sure everyone is safe from the incident. After that, you can find a professional body shop for your vehicle. A reliable auto body shop will expertly repair your vehicle as its technicians restore the car’s appearance. With that, your vehicle will look as good as new as you remain safe on the road.

Elmer’s Auto Body is committed to getting your vehicle back on the road. We have the latest technology to handle all types of repairs. Our customers love our service, and we have the professional certifications to ensure your car is in the right hands. Along with that, we have taken the latest safety procedures to keep you safe during the pandemic. If you want to schedule a consultation, please call our shop at (856) 218-0202.