If you have been in an accident recently, you might be wondering if it is worth it to sell your car. Some people are quick to throw away their cars because they think they will not work after the car accident, but this is usually not the case.
There are several reasons you should consider selling your car after an accident. You can get money for it and use that money to get a new car or pay some of the expenses for the accident. If your car is totaled, this may be your only chance of getting cash out of it.
If you have title loans, your insurance company might be able to pay them off if the car is totaled. If not, you can use this money to help pay off or lower your monthly payments.
How Does a Car Crash Happen?
A car crash can happen to any of us. Most people will be involved in a minor collision during their driving life. However, most drivers don’t realize that there are many different ways for a crash to occur – and being aware of the possibilities could help you avoid becoming one of the 1 million people who suffer a car crash injury each year.
Here are the most common ways a car crash happens:
Strange Driving
Driving has become very dangerous, even today, with all the technology. Too many factors can cause a car crash to count, but one major factor is strange driving due to distractions. Distractions include anything from a ringing phone to taking a nap or working on a computer. People think they can handle driving and the distractions simultaneously, but it is nearly impossible for many reasons. One reason it is nearly impossible to focus on driving while being distracted by something else is that the driver’s mind will wander away from their task, which is to drive the car.
Instead of focusing on what they should be doing, many drivers get caught up in worrying about how late they will be for work the next day or what they are going to make their kids for dinner. As most people know, car crashes can happen at any moment, and it is the driver’s responsibility to pay attention to the road to prevent accidents from occurring. Driving requires 100% of a person’s attention; therefore, there should not be anything else distracting them while behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Car Park Collisions
One of the most common causes of car crashes happens when drivers reverse into other cars. This happens in car parks when a driver backs into another parked vehicle. Sometimes, the damage is minor and hardly noticeable, but often it isn’t. The damage to the two vehicles might be so bad that it requires a tow truck. This happens because a driver did not properly align their vehicle before reversing out of space. Most drivers wait in the lane to see if anyone else turns up, and then when no one does, they move forward into a parking space. However, they sometimes misjudge the space and end up overlapping it. This type of car parking collision is very common. This also happens because there is a lack of proper car parking spaces. Many times, drivers attempt to park without any regard for other cars. On top of this, drivers who choose to reverse out of a space need to pay close attention. This is because there might be obstacles such as poles or signs that will prevent them from seeing oncoming traffic.
Uneven Roads
If you have ever driven a car on a bumpy road, then you know that it can be quite a jarring drive. But it turns out that this is not just an annoyance but can lead to serious car crashes. Uneven roads cause car crashes by disrupting a vehicle’s lateral stability, which is its ability to move side-to-side without going off the road. The more stable a vehicle, the less likely it will be involved in an accident. Incidents of vehicles going off the road and causing car crashes, like serious injury or death of passengers, happen all too often.
Drivers heading straight down an uneven road will constantly have to fight the urge to steer back and forth because of how it feels during the ride; this takes up energy that could be used for other things, like braking. It is a simple enough concept that if a driver must focus on fighting the vehicle’s movement to stay in one lane during all of their driving time, they will not be focusing on much else. The consequences of this can be disastrous. Studies have shown that drivers who experience lateral swaying motions for prolonged periods are likely to get into accidents, especially on longer road trips.
Road Rage
It is well known that road rage can cause various problems, but it seems that this dangerous behavior can lead to car crashes. According to a recent survey, researchers found that people who tend to be aggressive or angry behind the wheel may be more likely to get into car crashes because their attention and awareness have been compromised. Researchers say this is especially true for older drivers who are most at risk of having road rage and getting into an accident. Usually, older people have slower response times, and their brains cannot process information as efficiently as younger adults.
Researchers say the survey results combined with a growing number of studies linking aggressive driving to car crashes show a strong correlation between road rage and car accidents. Road rage is a widespread problem that could have serious implications for drivers. For example, many people are aggressive when stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic. This often leads to road rage, which can lead to an accident. To prevent these types of issues, researchers recommend drivers take several steps, including keeping a safe distance from the car in front of them and cutting back on distractions such as cell phones.
Steps Involved in Restoring a Car Involved in an Accident
Before a car is offered for sale, a dealer must make sure it is in condition to be sold. Usually, cars are not sold until they have been thoroughly checked and cleaned up, especially after an accident.
Here are the steps involved in restoring a car that was involved in an accident before selling it.
1. The first step after receiving roadside assistance is to examine the car carefully and see if it is safe for a mechanic to work on. All broken glass must be swept out of the interior, all hatches and doors closed properly, any loose screws, including those of windshield wiper tightened, and so on.
2. If no parts are missing from the car, they must all be washed. The engine should also be checked for oil and power steering fluid levels. If there are problems, the car is usually not ready for sale.
3. Another thing that must be checked is if the vehicle identification number, window stickers, and any other stickers on the car have been tampered with or removed completely. If any of these items are missing, you start by checking with the company that assisted you with the auto towing service before heading back to the accident scene.
4. The next step is to repair the damaged areas of the car with new metal. A body filler kit can do this job quite well, but it is said that only skilled professionals offering auto body mechanic services should use it to avoid mistakes and problems later on when painting the car.
5. After sanding and smoothing out the repaired metal and making sure all holes and scratches have been filled, it is time to prime the surface.
6. The next step is to clear coat the primed metal. A clear coat helps protect the car from rusting and provides a shield that allows for further sanding and finishing. Light coats should be used with a clear coat to allow the paint color to show through.
7. The next step is to apply a base coat to the clear coat. Base coats give bright colors and shine as well as help protect from scratches, dents, and rust. This step can also be done by professionals or anyone skilled at spraying cars.
8. After all the metal has been properly painted, the next step is to apply a colored lacquer. This step covers up any flaws and mistakes that might have occurred during the painting process and provides a smooth, shiny coat over everything.
Alternatives for Selling a Car that Has Been restored
There is no doubt that getting involved in a car crash is a traumatizing experience for any car owner. The temptation to dispose of your car after being involved in a car crash is always overwhelming, especially when your car has suffered a considerable amount of damage. No matter how much you have an attachment with your car, selling it would be the best option in the unfortunate event of a car crash. It is, however, critical to note that the process of getting cash for my car can turn out to be a daunting task. Without adequate knowledge on how to go about this process, you can sell your car at a great loss. This is usually the case because most potential car buyers would want to take advantage of your desperation to propose a ridiculous price.
Document Any Damage to the Vehicle
When you have decided to sell a car with an accident history, it is crucial to provide every detail on the damaged parts. Keep in mind that this should be done even if the damaged parts have been repaired and there is nothing to show that your vehicle was involved in a car crash. If a buyer discovers that you did not inform them about your car’s accident history, then they can hire an auto accident attorney and take legal action against you as the seller. To avoid such a scenario, you should have a vehicle history report and keep track of any damage a car has sustained. It is advisable to include paper copies with the rest of the sales documents.
Decide Whether to Repair the Vehicle.
There is no doubt that selling a vehicle with unrepaired damage can be difficult. This does not mean that it is impossible to sell such a car. If your car has been involved in a car crash and you are working on selling it, you will have an easy time getting a customer if all the damages sustained during the accident damage are fixed in a competent car repair garage. However, if you plan to sell your car without making the repairs, it would help if you adjusted the price accordingly. After all, the buyer would have to incur repair expenses to put the car back on the road.
Be Honest about Accident History.
Be upfront about any damage history and prove that you’re an honest seller in their dealings. You can do this by providing authentic and detailed information about the nature of the damage, whether it was a parking lot fender-bender or something a bit more serious than damaged most automotive parts. Either way, it’s your duty to let your buyer know. You should serve them with the repair records and the vehicle history report.
Most people wrongfully assume that once they are involved in a car crash, then the only option left is to abandon that car and work on getting a new one. However, with the right approach, a car involved in a car crash can be sold at a fair price that can assist the owner in meeting several expenses. In case you are not sure how to go about this process, it is always advisable to contact a professional to hold your hand throughout the process of disposing of your car. Remember that any slight mistake can cause you to lose a substantial amount of your property.