What is a Fender Bender?

Fender benders are usually minor car accidents that can happen at slower driving speeds, or even while parked and involve the bumper or fender of a vehicle. A runaway shopping cart can be the cause, as can a rear-end collision, backing out of a driveway or parking space, or hitting a mailbox. While these low-speed incidents are not serious, they can be costly to repair. Fender benders are never fun and can ruin the appearance and possible safety of a vehicle.

Bumpers are designed to absorb impact and protect the rest of the vehicle from extensive damage, making it one of the most commonly damaged parts of a vehicle — especially in collisions with other vehicles. Your bumper is the first thing that will take impact during an accident if you are hit in the front or rear end. It helps deflect impact and works with the fenders to transfer the energy of the accident to the frame of the car.

Bumper Repair vs. Bumper Replacement

If your bumper is damaged, you have several options. Minor issues can usually be repaired, but more serious damage could require a new replacement bumper. The choice between bumper repair or replacement will come down to the extent of the damage.

Typically minor scratches, dents and chips can be easily repaired using specialized tools found in an auto body shop. The shop will also repaint or blend any repaired areas on the bumper to make sure it is an exact color match to the rest of the vehicle.

Bumper replacement is often recommended if there is severe damage, like deep cracks and holes or if the bumper is falling off the vehicle. However, new technologies have made more repairs possible. To know what’s possible with your bumper, schedule an appointment to have your bumper (and any underlying damage) evaluated.

Broken fenders are extremely common. Unlike many other forms of auto body damage, broken fenders are usually due to collision with inanimate objects, rather than other cars. Fender damage can range from a small dent to more serious harm. Service King Collision Repair Centers are equipped and ready to fix almost any type of damage to your vehicle. We repair a wide range of auto body types, including steel, aluminum, carbon fiber and even sheet molded compound.