Following your recent involvement in a minor fender bender, you may be confused about what to do next. On one hand, going to the body shop seems like the responsible thing to do. On the other hand, the inconvenience that a side trip will potentially cause isn't something you wish to deal with. Do you need collision repairs in that scenario? You can come up with an answer to that question after checking a few things. Continue reading here so you can identify the signs that you need collision repairs.

Your Car Is Not Handling Like Normal

According to Fortune Magazine, the average American vehicle stays parked 95% of the time. Because of that, you may be unable to sense certain issues affecting your vehicle. To be more specific, you may not be able to tell that it isn't driving like normal. After you get home following your accident, try to drive your vehicle for a bit. Get a feel for how it handles and note if it feels different. The car shaking while you're driving is one of the telltale signs that something's wrong. Take it to the repair shop as soon as possible so it can be seen by a mechanic.

Your Brakes Are Unresponsive

During your short drive after your accident, you may step on the brakes and get an unusual response. It's an unusual response because it's almost as if the brakes didn't register at all. Those unresponsive brakes may be caused by damage to the brake pads. They require your immediate attention so sign up for collision repairs after you notice them.

Your Headlights Are Not Staying On

Compared to some of the other troubling signs we've detailed here, flickering headlights are pretty easy to notice. They should be obvious the first time you go to drive your car at night. Hold off on driving your car for that night and schedule a visit to the auto repair shop for the next morning instead.

Your Car Is Registering Trouble Codes

Finally, you can also confirm if your car needs collision repairs by checking for diagnostic trouble codes. Get your hands on an OBD scanner and plug it into your vehicle's OBD port. Switch on the ignition and check if the scanner presents any trouble codes. Make the trip to the repair shop if codes appear on the OBD scanner.

It's easy to miss the signs that your vehicle needs collision repairs if you don't know what to look for. If you fail to notice those signs in time, your car's condition may further deteriorate and you may end up on the hook for more expensive repairs. Be vigilant when it comes to inspecting your car so you can spot potential problems right away. Contact City Side Auto Shop today if you are looking for collision repair.