When you’re rushing out the door on the way to work, trying to usher kids into the car to get to school, or running late to an important appointment, mistakes can understandably happen. It’s easy to overlook your garage door opener when you’re trying to be fast, which can cause you to accidentally back into your door.
The impact can result in minor damage like scratches and extensive damage that affects your door’s — and potentially your car’s — functionality. Extensive damage to your garage door typically affects the tracks, springs, panels and cables. Below, we share a breakdown of the steps to follow if you back into a garage door.
Table of Contents
1. Turn Off Your Car and Ensure Everyone’s Safety
As soon as you hit the door, put your car in park, engage the emergency brake and turn off the engine. Shutting off your engine before getting out of your car prevents accidental acceleration, which could exacerbate the damage.
Your next priority should be ensuring your safety and that of passengers and bystanders. Keep calm as you check for injuries, and call emergency services if anyone is hurt.
2. Inspect for Visible Damage
Inspect your garage door and vehicle for physical damage, such as dents and scratches. If you can, move your car forward slightly to check for surface damage.
Some common issues caused by backing into your garage door include:
- Dents, dings and warping to the door panels.
- Bending and ripping of the track from the mounting that prevents the garage door from sliding up and down.
- Damaged torsion and extension springs that prevent the door from opening properly.
- Damaged sensors that prevent proper opening.
- Misaligned rollers that increase the risk of the door falling out of the tracks.
- Damage to the weather seal on the bottom of your door.
- Cracks that compromise your door’s structural integrity.
3. Open the Door Manually
Try opening the door manually to test whether it is still functioning correctly. Open it slowly and stop if you hear any odd sounds. Avoid trying to use your automatic opener — doing so may cause more damage. The forceful nature of the remote opening may exacerbate small issues into greater problems. It also increases the risk of injuries. If the garage door is misaligned or off the tracks, it could collapse if you try to use your automatic opener.
Safely open your garage door manually by locating and pulling the release cord to disconnect the opener while the door is still closed. You’ll typically find the cord hanging from your garage door opener. Then, squat down and lift the door open, using internal handles if possible.
4. Document the Incident
As you inspect the damage, you should document the incident with photos and detailed descriptions. Capture images of the damage to the garage door and your vehicle, noting the date, time and circumstances surrounding the incident. Use a smartphone with a high-quality camera or a digital camera to capture clear, wide-shot angles to provide sufficient context to support your claims.
These details help you get a more accurate quote. Additionally, it gives garage door repair companies an idea of the materials and tools they’ll need to complete the repair. The documentation also helps when you contact your insurance companies for claims covering repairs.
You can also gather and organize documents that strengthen your case, such as insurance policy documents and proofs of purchase of damaged items.
5. Contact Your Insurance Companies
Depending on the extent of the damage, you can choose to pay for repairs out of pocket or file a claim with your home and car insurance companies. Minor dents and scratches probably cost less than the deductible, so covering these yourself is possible. However, your homeowners insurance policy will likely cover the repair and replacement of your garage door in case of extensive damage. Similarly, you can consult your car insurance policy in case of extensive vehicle damage.
Report the incident and provide both companies with the necessary documentation. Companies may agree to cover the costs if you can prove that the damage was accidental.
Unfortunately, if your garage is detached from your home, you need a special rider on your homeowners insurance policy to cover the damage to the door. You can reach out to your insurer directly or consult your insurance agent to file the claims and help you understand the scope of your policies.
6. Evaluate Your Repair Options
You might be able to buff away car scratches yourself. However, if you’d like your car repainted or if it’s experienced more extensive damage, you’ll want to call a professional.
Minor garage door damage is easy to fix yourself. You can buff away scratches, repaint the door or retouch the door with stain or rubbing alcohol. However, it’s best to avoid performing extensive repairs yourself. Garage doors are heavy, and lifting them yourself during repairs can increase the risk of injury.
Attempting DIY garage door fixes could also worsen the problem, leading to more expensive repairs. Additionally, garage doors require specialized skills and tools for effective and efficient repairs and replacement. Avoiding the DIY route ultimately saves you time and money while preventing misdiagnosis and installing the wrong parts.
It’s best to contact a professional garage door repair service near you to inspect the garage door and determine whether you need minor repairs or a complete replacement. They have the tools and experience to diagnose the problem accurately and recommend the best solutions.
Get Professional Repair Services From R&R Doors
If you accidentally back your car into your garage door, stay calm and call R&R Doors for professional garage door repair services. We have more than three decades of experience in the garage door installation, maintenance and repair business. Most of our employees have been with us for years, and they understand the needs of our clients in the Madison and Southern Wisconsin areas.
We’re a family-owned business that partners with the best brands in the industry to provide our commercial and residential clients with reliable garage doors, openers, operators, remotes, replacement parts and other accessories. We service and repair all garage door brands using the highest-quality parts and the latest technologies.
Contact us today for repair services if you’ve backed up into your garage door or it unexpectedly jams. You can also schedule an appointment or request a quote for installation, maintenance or servicing.
