My Teen Hit My Garage Door with the Car!

Don’t worry. We’ve all been there before. You can blame it on your teenager, but regardless of the cause, your garage door has had a serious run-in. Sure, it’s an inconvenience, but fortunately, you don’t have to handle it on your own. Here’s what to do if your teenager (or someone else) runs into your garage door. 

Clear the Area

Before you do anything else, clear the area around your garage door. Be very cautious as you do so, especially if your damaged garage door is stuck in an open or partly open position. If you can do so safely, move your car outside of the garage to avoid becoming stranded. If you can't get your car out safely at this point, make sure that no other objects or people are in the danger zone.

Examine the Damage

Once you’ve moved everything, including yourself, out of harm’s way, it’s time to take stock of your door’s condition. Many garage door run-ins impact only the bottom panel of the garage door. If the rest of your system appears to be intact, try using your opener to operate your door. Do not use your opener if your garage door has come off of its tracks or if you notice broken springs or cables. Stop your cycle if you hear any loud noises like grinding or clanking.

Close the Door

If your garage door is stuck part of the way open near the ground, and you don't want to attempt operating it with your opener, you can disengage your door from the motor by pulling on the red cord hanging from the opener itself, ensuring nothing is in its path in case it falls. You can then manually move the door to a closed position. Do not attempt to do this if your door has come off of its tracks, if it’s stuck open far from the ground, or if there is serious damage to the rest of your system.

Contact a Professional

In most cases, you’ll need a professional opinion about the condition of your garage. Contact your local garage door repair company as soon as possible to prevent any subsequent damage. Your garage door technician can assess the situation and conduct the repairs needed to get your system back in order.

Submit a Claim

If the damage to your garage door or car was significant, you may want to consider submitting a claim to your insurance company. Damage done to your car should be submitted to your auto insurance company, and damage to your garage door or property should be submitted to your homeowner’s insurance company. Remember to compare the cost of your deductible to the actual cost of repair, as it may be less expensive to simply pay for the repair out of pocket. 

If you need a reliable garage door repair technician in the Cedar Rapids area, contact Doors by George. Our trained professionals have the knowledge and expertise to get your garage door system up and running again. No matter how bad the run-in, we’ve got you covered.