Information you can use
now !!!!!!
This is a sample of the handout that is used in our live educational
seminars. It
provides information on how different construction characteristics change
how
the car should be evaluated, and how to properly asses collision damage
using
what is known about the industry and other resources.
"How to prove collision damage:
A view from both sides of the fence."
Presented by Future Forensics™ and VeriFacts Automotive LLC.
Please contact the Future Forensics office for dates and times of the
"How to prove collision damage: A view from both sides of the fence" Seminar
series.
Office: (206) 362-2835 Toll free: (888) 362-2511
E-Mail:
Information@futureforensics.com
The information contained in this document is generic and in no way is meant
to be used
on a specific vehicle. Always refer to the vehicle makers body repair manual
for the
specific characteristics of the vehicle in question.
Why Future Forensics™?
1. The need for a better understanding of how cars are damaged in a
collision
and how to document that damage.
2. Discuss how every vehicle is different and that you cannot use the cookie
cutter
method of analysis when trying to analyze the damage.
I. Frame/Structure Designs:
1. Unibody Design:
-can be made of mild steel, high strength steel, aluminum,
plastic.
-steel structure all welded together to make one body or
"unibody".
-outer body panels made of steel, aluminum, plastic.
-each car style has it's own energy absorbing
characteristics.
-passenger cars have energy absorbing bumper assemblies and
crush
collapse zones.
-damage analysis is logical but due to the tight/compact
design; damage is often
not visible on first glance unless major.
-plastic can be especially hard to detect damage due to the
"memory effect"
where plastic will spring back to "shape" and steel
usually does not.
-sometimes will require a vehicle be "torn down" to find all
damage.
-manufacturer tolerance usually +/- 3 mm. some as little as
+/- 1mm.
2. Space Frame Design:
-a type of unibody.
-outer panels are bolted, glued. riveted, or a combination of
these.
-most outer body panels and bumper covers are plastic.
-will "hide" damage.
3. Full Frame:
-lower full frame and the body is usually bolted together
with rubber
grommets in between them.
-not as logical to find damage as the unibody due to bolted
on body to
frame design.
-2 MAJOR TYPES:
*ladder style (trucks): one solid rail on each side with
crossmembers
connecting them together. Body bolted on top of frame
giving vehicle
a higher center of gravity. Most are solid but some
have front crush
collapse zones.
*perimeter style (cars): have side rails as the ladder frame
but usually
have rear kick ups and front offsets that can
absorb collision energy.
*lower center of gravity as the car body generally sits
inside the frame
and is bolted on rubber grommets.
- some may have a manufactured tolerance of +/- 5mm or more.
4. Combination Designs (hybrids):
-have a full frame lower and a unibody upper and require the
use of full
frame diagnosis and unibody diagnosis.
II. Bumper System Component and Design
A. Components:
1. Bumper Covers:
-usually cosmetic and made of thermoplastic or thermoset
plastic.
2.Crushable energy absorbers:
-designed to be crushed on impact and absorb collision
energy.
-some vehicles use to hold cover in proper form and shape.
-usually replaced unless the manufacturer has a specific
repair
procedure.
-usually located between the outer cover and the
reinforcement bar.(sandwiched in between).
-usually cannot be seen with the bumper cover on the car.
-can be made of foam, plastic, or similar materials.
3. Piston/Mechanical Energy Absorbers:
-designed to absorb collision energy.
-crush, collapse, or move on impact, some go back to original
state in minor
impacts.
-some must be removed and tests performed on them to
determine if OK
or have to be replaced.
-can be reused even if it looks damaged- if it returns to
original state and shape and passes
diagnostic tests as prescribed by the manufacturer.
4.Bumper Brackets Design:
-May bend or break in a collision depending on design.
-generally located in between the car frame and the bumper
bar or reinforcement.
-if damaged or broken usually replaced.
5. Bumper Reinforcements/Bumper Bars:
-made of a wide variety of materials:
*steel, (mild, high strength, ultra highstrength)
*aluminum.
*plastic/composite.
B. Designs:
1.The purpose of the front or rear bumper (as it pertains to collisions) is
to
direct the flow of collision energy into the frame rails where it
can be
properly managed by design. Some are designed to absorb some of
the collision energy and especially in minor impacts may keep the
damage
limited to the bumper system only.
2. Bumper designs include but are not limited to:
-cover/crushable energy absorber/reinforcement.
-bumper reinforcement-bar/brackets.
-reinforcement bar/mechanical energy absorber.
-composite bumpers with the reinforcement molded together.
-cover/reinforcement-bar/mechanical energy absorber.
-cover/reinforcement-bar/brackets.
3.As new cars are being designed, manufacturers are designing new and
unique bumper systems.
4. Most bumpers have a rating attached to them (2.5 mph, 5mph, etc.).
5. Bumper systems must be analyzed on a case by case basis as they vary
widely.
III. FRAME/STRUCTURE DESIGN
1.Unibody and space frame vehicles:
-contain crush/collapse zones in the front and rear frame
rails
designed to absorb collision energy.
-designed to force the collision energy around the passenger
compartment (into the roof and rockers).
-have specific repair/replace recommendations.
-vary widely from vehicle to vehicle.
-have specific repair procedures.
2.Full frame/perimeter frames:
-may have crush collapse zones in them.
-may or may not direct collision energy around the passenger
compartment if they are designed too rigid.
-vary widely by design.
IV. FINDING THE REAL DAMAGE.
1. Use a systematic approach in a logical order:
-look for uneven panel gaps.
-proper/improper operation.
-cars damage in a cause effect relationship.
2. Teardown the car and take the "damage hiding" parts off the car to find
the
bent/twisted metal and crushed energy absorbers
3.Sometimes structure damage can only be positively identified by precise
three dimensional measuring
4. 30 to 40% of the frame rail damage can only be seen from the underside of
the vehicle, so also inspect the vehicle from the underside,
preferably on
a lift for overhead inspection or crawl underneath.
5. minor collisions may have hidden damage.
6. bumper absorbers, frame rails and other collision energy absorbing parts
of
the vehicle, in many cases cannot be seen without tearing the
vehicle down.
V. SO WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ALL THIS ???
1. Most estimates are written with the philosophy of: "write only the
visible
damage"
2. It is very common that after the car has been "torn down" there is more
damage found.
-the process is called a supplement or additional and each
insurance
company usually has a phone number to call if more
damage is found.
-the damage that is found after teardown sometimes is the
bumper
absorber, reinforcement or damage to the
structure/unibody.
3. Some estimates are written for best case scenario with the understanding
that the body shop can call if it does not repair as first
thought.
- this could mean the difference of trying to repair a quarter
panel - but it
does not work -so it requires replacement. ( a major
welded on part of
the car).
VI. PRIOR POOR QUALITY REPAIRS:
1. Improperly repaired vehicles can also cause problems:
-if a frame rail has been repaired/replaced improperly it can
cause the car
to react differently than it would had it not been
previously repaired.
-some prior repairs are responsible for major injury to
vehicle occupants
VII. HOW TO GET THE INFORMATION NEEDED
TO PROVE COLLISION DAMAGE:
1. Photographs as soon after the accident as possible.
2. Frame measurement data sheet showing any vehicle misalignment.
3. Photographs after the vehicle has been torn down, and during the repair
if possible.
4. Photographs of the major collision protection parts of the vehicle that
were
damaged and comparative side to sides.
5. A narrative description of the vehicle and the damage to it by a
qualified person.
-this report should include the bumper type.
-car type (unibody, full frame, etc.) and detail the damage
to it.
6. A copy of the completed repair invoice for the vehicle if it was
repaired.(call the body shop).
please contact Future Forensics directly
for the dates and times of the
"How to prove collision damage: A view from both sides of the fence"
seminar series.
The information contained in this report
is not intended to be a complete
and accurate representation of all variables. It is intended as generic
information about vehicles and the collision repair industry. In no way
should
it be used for other than reference. Always refer to the body repair manual
for specific information and manufacturer recommendations.
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