Bumper Integrity

[chusteczka]

A car was too close behind me the other day, stopped in traffic. It decided to change lanes and contacted and compressed the rear corner of my bumper. I heard the bumper pop.

The car is a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The plastic surface layer of the bumper has been taken off but the bumper is resilient and popped back out and resumed its original shape. Damage appears negligible and my first thought is not to file a claim for bumper replacement. The bumper still looks good and is firmly connected in place, not loose anywhere along the edges.

What I am concerned with is the integrity of the compressible material under the bumper's surface. Is the bumper now permanently damaged and requires replacement, or is it still good for further protective bumping activity?

If I take it to a garage, they would argue for replacement because of the insurance money. But I do not wish to replace it if unnecessary.

I plan to be out this weekend, will return Sunday night. Thank you for any replies.

 

[BassBomb]

They had cobalt in 1996?

The part under the plastic is the bumper, what you see on the outside thats painted plastic is the bumper cover.

Bumper covers are no big deal, if your bumper below was damaged it usually needs replacing. I would have it checked out before making a decision.

 

[chusteczka]

They had cobalt in 1996?

Wow, sorry, 2006. Corrected above. Sometimes I think the 2000's decade was lost from my life due to a divorce. My thinking often just skips right over that period.

That is what I am wondering about. The bumper cover popped back out but I am uncertain of the condition of the bumper material underneath the cover.

 

[RLGL]

Put the car on stands, get underneath and look at it from the other side. There may be nothing on the back side.

 

[chusteczka]

Put the car on stands, get underneath and look at it from the other side. There may be nothing on the back side.

That may be the only way to tell. Thank you both for your comments.

 

[thomsbrain]

The other car is paying for it, right? Take it to their insurance adjuster and have them cut you a check for a new cover at least. Why walk away from "free" money?

 

[gururu2]

Similar thing happened to my wife recently where a vehicle pulled forward at stop light and punctured the cover with their license plate screws. She asked my wife to quote repair before contacting insurance. I told my wife no way and reported incident to our own insurance who promptly notified her insurance (whether we wanted to file claim or not). Her insurance called, we filed and had a quote generated. I asked the guy if the integrity of the bumper was at risk and he said most probably not but they would see when they replaced the bumper cover. Refurbished cover and labor at $761 (2005 Accord 4cyl).

My thought is this. I don't want to take on the liability of someone being careless with their driving. I am accountable for everything I do behind the wheel and so should everyone else. When we were on the other end and my wife bumped someone's car in the parking lot, we immediately told our insurance and they paid it out no questions and no rate hike.