So, you've been involved in an automobile accident, filed an insurance claim, and now have your settlement check in your hands. You may look at it and think to yourself: I could sure use this money to pay some bills. The car doesn't look that bad, it doesn't matter whether I get the work done or not. However, if you're thinking like this, you may be mistaken.  Use this information to learn more about why you should get your vehicle repaired right away after your accident.

It May Be A Requirement

One of the most compelling reasons why you should get your vehicle repaired after an accident is because your lien holder may require it. Until you have completely paid off the loan owed for your car, it still technically belongs to the lien holder, who holds the title to the property. The lien holder is essentially letting you borrow the car until you are able to pay for it.

While the car is in your possession, it is your responsibility to keep the asset in the best possible condition. This means that if you are in an accident and receive a settlement check for it, you need to use the money to return the car back to its previous condition right away.  

There Could Be Internal Damage

Another reason why you should get your auto body repaired after an accident is because even though it may appear that the damage to your car is mainly external, there could be some internal injury to the car that you are unable to see with the naked eye. For example, if you make mild contact with an object, you may assume that the small dent on the front of your vehicle is the extent of the damage. However, unbeknownst to you, the impact from the collision caused your differential, axle, or tires to shift. This could end in a tragic situation, especially if one of the tires either pops or becomes dislodged.

If you are holding back on repairs because of insurance costs, you may want to see if your car is equipped with a "black box". Some newer car models actually record the data of crashes, so you can get compensation if a court finds that you do have an internal car issue (and you weren't at fault).

Talk with auto body repair technicians, like Select Collision Centers Inc, for more information. A repair shop will be able to detect problems that you can't see, possibly saving you from dealing with another accident in the future.