It happens fast. You start backing out before the garage door is fully open, misjudge the distance while pulling in, or accidentally tap the door with your vehicle. After the initial shock, the first question is usually: Can I still use the garage door?
If you backed into your garage door, resist the temptation to immediately press the opener and see what happens. Even if the damage looks minor from the outside, an impact can affect the panels, tracks, rollers, hinges, cables, and alignment of the entire system.
At Unwin Overhead Doors, we help homeowners throughout Western Massachusetts repair damaged residential garage doors safely. Here is what to do after your vehicle hits the door and how to determine whether professional repair is needed.
First: Do Not Keep Opening and Closing the Door
Your first instinct may be to test the garage door.
That can make the damage worse.
A door that has been hit may still look mostly intact while a roller has shifted, a track has bent, or one section of the door has moved out of alignment. Running the opener can force damaged components through the tracks and turn a relatively contained problem into a larger repair.
Before operating the door, look at it from a safe distance.
Do not use the opener if:
- The door looks crooked
- One side is higher than the other
- A panel is significantly bent
- A roller has come out of the track
- The tracks look bent or separated
- A cable is loose or hanging
- The door is partially open and unstable
- You hear unusual popping, grinding, or scraping
If any of these conditions are present, leave the door where it is and call for professional garage door repair.
Check the Garage Door Panels
A vehicle impact commonly damages one or more door panels.
A small cosmetic dent is different from structural damage that changes the shape of a panel or prevents the sections from moving correctly.
Look for:
- Dents
- Creases
- Cracks
- Bowed sections
- Separated panel edges
- Damage around hinges
- Gaps between door sections
If the panel is heavily bent, do not try to push or hammer it back into place.
Garage door sections have to move through curved tracks as the door opens. A panel that has lost its proper shape can bind, scrape, or put additional stress on the rollers and hinges.
In some situations, an individual damaged panel may be replaceable without replacing the entire garage door. The right solution depends on the extent of the damage, the age of the door, and whether a matching replacement panel is available.
Look at the Tracks
The metal tracks on each side of the door guide the rollers as the garage door moves.
An impact can shift or bend a track even if the vehicle primarily hit the door panel.
From a safe distance, check for:
- Visible bends
- Dents
- Gaps between the track and wall
- Loose brackets
- Rollers no longer sitting correctly inside the track
- One track appearing different from the other
Do not try to straighten a track with a hammer or other tool.
Garage door tracks must remain properly aligned. Forcing them back into position without checking the rest of the system can create additional problems.
Check Whether the Door Looks Crooked
Stand several feet back and look at the bottom edge of the garage door.
Does one side sit higher than the other?
A crooked door after a vehicle impact can indicate:
- A cable problem
- A roller that has come out of the track
- Track damage
- Bent hardware
- Panel damage
- A shift in the door’s alignment
A noticeably uneven door should not be operated.
Continuing to run the opener may pull the door farther out of position and place unnecessary strain on the opener and lifting system.
Inspect the Rollers and Hinges Visually
Rollers connect the garage door to its tracks, while hinges allow the individual sections to move as the door opens and closes.
An impact can damage or dislodge either component.
Look for:
- Rollers outside the tracks
- Rollers sitting at unusual angles
- Bent hinges
- Loose-looking hardware
- Hinges pulling away from the door
- Sections that no longer line up properly
Do not attempt to force a roller back into its track if the door is damaged or under tension.
A technician can determine why the roller came out and correct the underlying alignment problem before returning it to position.
What About the Springs and Cables?
Even if your vehicle did not directly hit the springs or cables, an impact can change the alignment or balance of the door.
That can affect the components responsible for supporting its weight.
Signs of a spring or cable problem include:
- A loose cable
- Frayed cable strands
- One side of the door hanging lower
- A visible gap in a torsion spring
- The door suddenly feeling extremely heavy
- A loud snap or bang
Do not touch or adjust garage door springs or cables.
These components operate under significant tension and should be inspected by a trained garage door technician.
Can I Open the Door Manually After Hitting It?
Be cautious.
If the garage door looks straight, the tracks appear intact, and there is only very minor cosmetic damage, the system may still operate. However, impact damage is not always obvious.
Do not manually lift the door if:
- It is crooked
- A cable is loose
- A spring looks damaged
- A roller is out of place
- The tracks are bent
- The door is jammed
- The door feels unusually heavy
Pulling the emergency release does not make a damaged garage door safe. It simply disconnects the door from the opener.
If you are unsure about the condition of the system, leave the door in place and have it inspected.
What if My Car Is Trapped Inside?
If you backed into your garage door and the damaged door will no longer open, you may have an urgent access problem.
Do not repeatedly press the opener button in an attempt to force the door upward. If the tracks, rollers, cables, or panels are damaged, the opener may make the situation worse.
Instead, call for professional assistance.
Unwin provides 24-hour emergency garage door service for situations where a garage door cannot be safely opened, closed, or secured.
What if the Garage Door Is Stuck Open?
A damaged door stuck open creates a different problem: your garage may no longer be secure.
This can expose:
- Vehicles
- Tools
- Bicycles
- Equipment
- Stored belongings
- Interior access to your home
Weather can also become an issue if rain, wind, or snow is expected.
Avoid attempting to force a crooked or damaged door closed. An unstable garage door can fall or move unexpectedly.
If the garage cannot be secured, treat the situation as an urgent repair.
Can a Dented Garage Door Panel Be Repaired?
It depends on the damage.
A shallow cosmetic dent may not affect the operation of the door. More severe damage can compromise the shape and structural integrity of the panel.
Professional inspection is especially important if the panel:
- Is sharply creased
- Has pulled away from a hinge
- Is cracked
- No longer lines up with adjacent panels
- Scrapes while moving
- Has caused the door to become crooked
Sometimes replacing one section is possible. In other situations, replacing the entire door may make more sense, particularly if the door is older or several sections are damaged.
You can explore replacement options on our Residential Garage Doors page.
Should I Check the Garage Door Opener Too?
Yes.
The opener may not have been physically hit, but trying to operate a damaged garage door can strain it.
Watch for:
- Humming or grinding
- The opener running without moving the door
- The door stopping unexpectedly
- A bent opener rail
- A damaged trolley
- Unusual chain or belt movement
If the opener was repeatedly used after the impact, mention that when scheduling service. A technician can inspect both the door and opener system.
What Should You Do Immediately After Hitting Your Garage Door?
If you backed into your garage door, follow these steps:
- Stop the vehicle and leave the door where it is.
- Do not repeatedly test the opener.
- Look for obvious panel, track, roller, cable, or hinge damage.
- Check whether the door appears level.
- Keep children and pets away from a damaged or unstable door.
- Take photos of the damage before anything is moved or repaired.
- Contact a garage door professional if anything appears bent, crooked, loose, or unsafe.
Photos can also be useful if you later need documentation for an insurance claim.
Will Homeowners or Auto Insurance Cover the Damage?
Coverage depends on your specific policy and how the accident occurred.
If your vehicle damaged your own garage door, there may be questions about whether coverage falls under your homeowners policy, auto policy, or neither. Deductibles and coverage limits can also affect whether filing a claim makes sense.
Take clear photos of:
- The garage door
- The vehicle
- The damaged panels
- Tracks or hardware
- The overall garage opening
Then contact your insurance provider directly to ask how your policy applies.
Your garage door technician can help determine what needs to be repaired or replaced, but coverage decisions should come from your insurance company.
When Should You Call for Professional Garage Door Repair?
Call a technician if:
- The door is crooked
- A panel is badly bent
- A track is damaged
- A roller has come out
- A cable is loose
- The door will not open or close
- The garage cannot be secured
- The opener strains to move the door
- You are unsure whether the door is safe
Vehicle impact can affect several parts of the system at once, so repairing only the most visible dent may not address the entire problem.
Get Your Garage Door Inspected After an Impact
If you backed into your garage door, the safest approach is to avoid forcing the system and inspect the damage before operating it again.
A minor dent may be mostly cosmetic, but a harder impact can affect panels, tracks, rollers, hinges, cables, and overall alignment. Catching those issues early can help prevent additional damage and restore safe operation.
Unwin Overhead Doors provides residential garage door repair, panel and hardware service, opener service, new garage door installation, and 24-hour emergency assistance throughout Western Massachusetts.
Contact Unwin Overhead Doors or call (413) 598-8844 to schedule garage door service.
Recent Comments