Structural damage on a car is any damage to the chassis or underlying structure, like breaking its skeleton. Repairing or realigning a frame can be difficult, and if the damage is too severe, the car is deemed a total structural loss.
This includes any harm to the car's frame, chassis, or any component crucial to the vehicle's overall stability and safety. Recognizing structural damage is essential, especially if it resulted from a car accident, as it compromises the vehicle's safety and significantly impacts its value and functionality.
Licensed home inspectors primarily look at the four pillars which are the foundation, floor, walls and roof. Cracking, sagging, shifting or missing features on any of the pillars may be considered structural damage if the ruin is severe.
Structural damage is described as damage to any part of the main structure, or any component that is designed to provide structural integrity. Additional parts that are bolted on are not considered part of the vehicle's structure.
Buying a car with structural damage can be risky and is generally not advisable for several reasons: Safety Concerns: Structural damage can compromise the integrity of the vehicle, affecting its safety in the event of an accident. This can put you and your passengers at risk.
If you're in an accident, you might want to know a structural total loss occurs when the structural damage to the vehicle is so severe that it is uncertain if a quality repair can be completed regardless of the cost of repairs or the percentage those repairs represent to the value of the vehicle.
Legal Implications of Structural Damage:
It is illegal for dealerships in California to lie to consumers, including lying about accident and structural damage. California law allows you to file a lawsuit to force the dealership to refund your money, take back the vehicle, and you may even get punitive damages.
Repairing structural damage requires specialized tools and techniques approved by the vehicle manufacturer. Using advanced measuring and adjustment equipment, our team at Ray's Automotive restores your car's frame to factory specifications, ensuring it drives as it did before the accident.
Common Signs of Structural Damage
Look for hairline cracks and larger diagonal cracks in the drywall, especially near windows and top corners of door frames. These, as well as any horizontal or stair-step cracks in block walls, can indicate foundation problems.
In contrast, major accidents often involve structural damage and can reduce a vehicle's value considerably. A vehicle that has been in a major accident may lose 10-15% of its value, whereas minor accidents might result in a 5-10% loss in value.
The majority of homeowners insurance policies do not cover any type of structural damage unless it has been covered by a specific event. For instance, if you added a rider to your policy to protect you against earthquake damage, your policy might cover structural damage due to the earth moving.
Location: Geographic location can significantly influence labor and material costs. Foundation repair costs in areas with high seismic activity, such as California, or in coastal regions prone to hurricanes, like Florida and Texas, may be higher due to increased demand for specialized expertise and materials.
Is it Safe to Live in a House with Foundation Problems? Living in a house with foundation problems is generally considered safe, though this depends on the extent of the issues. Minor concerns, such as cracks or gaps, usually do not pose an immediate risk but indicate the need for a professional inspection soon.
Severe damage means damage requiring either outright replacement or major reconstruction of the Equipment and Inventory before it can be used again for its intended purpose.
Failure or partial failure to structural elements of the walls, to include framing, etc. Failure or partial failure to foundation, to include crumbing, bulging, collapsing, horizontal cracks of more than 2 inches, and shifting of the residence on the foundation of more than 6 inches.
Realtors know that a home with foundation issues can lose as much as 25% of its value. This substantial loss is primarily due to the cost and potential risks associated with repairing the issue. For buyers, a structurally compromised home may impact its overall value and push buyers away from the property altogether.
Structural engineer inspection costs range from $100 to $2,000, depending on the type of inspection.
Building Components:
Structural damage involves harm to the essential components of a structure, such as its foundation, load-bearing walls, roof, floors, and supporting beams. Damage to these components can compromise the integrity and safety of the building.
Legal Remedies and Consumer Protection
A salvage title vehicle must be clearly identified as such, and any structural damage must be disclosed before the sale. The legal process typically involves: Documenting the vehicle's frame damage.
Engine Replacement
Greatly considered to be the most difficult automotive repair, replacing an engine is incredibly expensive. In fact, this repair is so expensive that it is often more appropriate to purchase a new vehicle rather than pay for an engine replacement.
“Insurance won't cover structural repairs.” In most cases, your policy will cover collision-related structural damage.
If a car dealership sold you a car that was in an accident or if a dealer sold you a car with structural damage, frame damage, or other substantial damage without disclosing it to you, then you may have a claim under California law.
When structural damage occurs, the vehicle is typically considered no longer safe to drive and should be avoided during the purchasing process. Structural damage can also lead to significant repair and replacement needs in the future, which means any savings from purchasing a damaged vehicle will be short-lived.
Some dealerships may refuse to accept a car with problems, but many will. When demand for used vehicles is high, you may get a surprisingly good trade-in offer. Even with existing issues, a desirable vehicle may also be a great bargaining piece.