by Randall Bullard

Created on: September 12, 2009

Used Vehicle and Accident Data

When setting out to purchase a used vehicle, one of the concerns that should be at the front of your mind is accident data. A vehicle that looks nice and shiny setting on the dealer's lot or the neighbor's drive may be hiding unknown damage from accidents. Many people would look at this vehicle never knowing that there has ever been an accident in this vehicle, not thinking to check the availability of accident data, choosing instead to assume that this is a nice used vehicle that is in need of a new home. Anytime you go to make a used vehicle purchase, accident data should be a vital concern as you shop for the right vehicle. The main reason that this information should be of primary importance is safety.

Unfortunately there are those individuals in the world who care little for the safety of another, opting instead to care about the generation of profits to line their greedy pockets. Accidents in a vehicle can range from those that are very minor, the fender-bender, or it can amount to serious structural damage. A knowledgeable body shop technician is able to repair a vehicle to the point that neither of these accidents can be distinguished from one another. A vehicle that has encountered serious structural damage is no longer safe. The body has been weakened at the points of the structural damage and the likely deployment of the air bags is also to be called into question. Airbags on used vehicles that have been in an accident are not to be trusted. According to the National Safety Commission a head on collision in2003 resulted in the driver being seriously injured and the passenger being killed when the vehicles airbags did not deploy. The reason the airbags did not deploy were that the vehicle was a salvaged car that had been rebuilt without the driver-side airbag. The passenger airbag has simply been stuffed back into the compartment after it had deployed in a [previous accident (2008). This example alone illustrates the need for a thorough inspection for accident damage when looking to purchase a used vehicle.

The concerned consumer will need to do more than make a cursory inspection of the used vehicle to determine if this vehicle has ever been repaired. When inspecting the vehicle there are several areas to look to determine if work has ever been performed. Doors that do not align or close properly can indicate accident damage. Discolorations or runs in the paint are also indicative of a vehicle being damaged. An attentive

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