After being involved in an auto collision, you may have found that your car only suffered what appears to be minimal damage to the body with only a small dent in the side. Since you are able to drive your car without any problems, you may decide to put off having the dents repaired.

However, if your car was dented, there may be damage to the frame. If you delay having the frame inspected and repaired, there are a couple of ways that it could impact your future safety while driving.

1.  Reduces the Car's Ability to Absorb Impact

Your car's frame does so much more than maintain the shape of the body. It also serves a vital role in protecting you during an accident. When another vehicle or an object collides with your car, the frame serves as the first defense against the impact. Not only does it help keep you safe from the vehicle or object, but the frame also absorbs the vibrations and force, as well.

If your car's frame becomes bent even in a minor collision, its structural integrity is compromised. It is not as strong as it was before the accident and, in the future, it will not be able to withstand the force of any impact from another accident.

As a result, the frame may easily bend even more and allow the body to crush inward. If this happens in a spot where you or a passenger is sitting, there is an increased risk of severe injury.

2.  Decreases the Effectiveness of Your Car's Airbag System

Along with absorbing the impact during a collision, your car's frame is also an integral part of your vehicle's airbag system. As soon as an impact isdetected by the frame, the corresponding airbags deploy, thanks to the vibrations sent from the frame to their sensors.

However, if your frame is bent, there will be a delay in its ability to send the signals to the airbags' sensors. As a result, the bags may not deploy on time. Even a delay of a couple of seconds could mean the difference between you landing on an airbag or hitting the dashboard.

If your car has suffered frame damage, during even a small collision, you may be putting yourself and your passengers' safety at future risk, if you were to be in another accident. Don't put off having your car checked out. Take it to an automotive shop that offers collision repair services, so they can inspect the frame and discuss your options for repairing it.

For more information, contact a company like Exoticar Paintworks Inc.