TechnicianVision · Knowledge base
Back-To-Basics: Indirect Damage
I-CAR · August 19, 2020
Summary
This article highlights the importance of identifying indirect damage, which occurs when collision forces travel through a vehicle and damage components not directly involved in the impact. It emphasizes that thorough inspections, including part removal when necessary, are critical to finding hidden damage and ensuring a complete repair.
What to do on the job
Thoroughly inspect all areas along the collision energy path and remove adjacent components, such as headlamps, to check for hidden or indirect damage.
How to use it
Use this document to justify the labor time required for R&I (Remove and Install) of adjacent, undamaged-looking components to inspect for hidden indirect damage along the collision path. It helps defend the necessity of thorough teardowns and inspections to insurers by demonstrating how overlooked indirect damage (like a pierced headlamp housing) leads to post-repair failures.
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