A real-world accident story with a very Stafford solution
It wasn’t how Chloe had planned her Sunday morning.
The weather was miserable. That kind of relentless Stafford drizzle — not heavy enough to cancel plans, but annoying enough to soak you through in 10 seconds. Chloe had promised to drive to her friend’s new place in Cannock to drop off a few boxes. Her little red Peugeot 208 was loaded with random IKEA bags, a plant that kept tipping over, and a satnav that insisted on rerouting.
She was two minutes from home — just past the Wildwood shops — when it happened.
🛑 The Swerve
A van pulled out unexpectedly from a side road. Chloe swerved instinctively to avoid it — not a full collision, but enough to mount the curb with a thud.
There was no dramatic crash. No shattered glass. Just a rattle she hadn’t heard before, a slight pull in the steering, and a creeping sense that something wasn’t quite right.
She kept going for a bit. But by the time she reached Acton Hill, the car wasn’t driving smoothly. It was… off. A strange vibration. Like something under the surface had shifted.
So she pulled over.
🔧 Phone Calls and a Bit of Panic
She called her dad.
“Dad, I didn’t crash. But I kind of… hit a curb. And now the steering’s weird.”
“Are you safe?”
“Yeah. But I don’t know what to do.”
He asked her to send a picture of the wheel. Then another of the front panel.
From the photos, nothing looked terribly wrong — but dads know. And her dad said what all parents say eventually:
“You need to get that checked properly. Don’t leave it.”
Chloe Googled:
“car repair Stafford”
“wheel damage pothole Staffordshire”
“vehicle diagnostics near me”
That’s when her friend Katie called.
“I told my cousin you had a bump,” she said. “He said go to Bodymatters. They’re on Tollgate Drive. Did my brother’s van after someone reversed into it. Said they were brilliant.”
Between Google and that one cousin recommendation, Chloe decided to book in.
📞 The Call to Bodymatters
It was just before noon on a Sunday, so she filled out the online form, expecting a call back Monday.
To her surprise, someone messaged her that evening.
“Hi Chloe, saw your enquiry — happy to book you in for a free check first thing tomorrow. No pressure. We’ll take a proper look.”
She felt better already.
🧰 The Inspection
By 10 AM Monday, Chloe was in the Bodymatters reception with a latte she barely had time to sip.
One of the techs came out to look at the car with her.
He asked, “Which side hit the curb?”
“Left. Front wheel.”
They did a quick underbody check and invited her into the workshop to see it for herself — something she hadn’t expected.
That’s when it became clear: the impact had knocked the lower control arm slightly out of alignment, and the steering rack was showing early signs of wear. The wheel arch liner was torn, and the tracking was visibly off.
Also? The panel above the wheel was flexed — the kind of minor cosmetic issue that could lead to rust later if ignored.
🧠 The Hidden Cost of "Not That Bad"
Chloe was honest.
“I thought I could leave it. I’ve been Googling ‘is it safe to drive after hitting a curb.’ But then the vibration started and…”
She didn’t need to explain. We’ve heard it all before.
Lots of drivers in Stafford think if a car looks okay, it must be okay.
But underneath? Today’s vehicles are like laptops on wheels. Sensors, alignment systems, electrical harnesses — all can be knocked out of sync from a single bump.
🛠️ The Bodymatters Plan
We offered her two options:
Minimal fix – Just rebalance the wheel and reset the alignment
Proper repair – Replace the bent control arm, inspect and seal the wheel arch, restore alignment and safety checks.
Chloe chose the second.
“I’d rather do it properly now than spend more later,” she said.
So we:
✔ Replaced the front left control arm
✔ Re-sealed and riveted the inner arch liner
✔ Corrected the wheel tracking and camber
✔ Buffed the minor scuff on the front panel and treated the paint
✔ Ran a full steering system diagnostic
✔ Offered a courtesy car for the day (which she loved, by the way)
No scare tactics. No jargon. Just clear advice and smart fixes.
🌧️ Back on the Road, Properly
By Tuesday afternoon, Chloe’s car was ready.
No more vibration. No more nervous pulling. And the panel? Smooth and sealed, with a perfect paint match. You’d never know it had met a Stafford curb at 25mph.
We walked her through every part of the job. Gave her before-and-after pictures. Printed a guarantee.
She messaged her dad the moment she got home:
“Car’s sorted. They were amazing. Didn’t upsell anything. Felt like they actually cared.”
He replied, “Told you not to leave it!”
💬 What Chloe Learned
A week later, she sent us a review that made the team smile:
“Everyone told me to leave it. Said it was ‘just a curb.’ But I’m so glad I listened to my gut (and Katie’s cousin). Bodymatters fixed it before it got worse — and they were genuinely kind the whole time.”
She also posted on her Instagram story:
“Stafford people: don’t ignore those weird noises. Bodymatters on Tollgate Drive = lifesavers.”
📍 Why Stafford Trusts Bodymatters
We’ve seen it all — from bollards in Penkridge to gateposts in Gnosall, potholes on the A34, and parking scrapes in Asda Stafford.
Every accident has a story. And every car deserves a fix done right.
With us, you’ll always get:
✅ Manufacturer-level repairs
✅ Honest diagnostics (with proof)
✅ Courtesy cars when you need them
✅ Help dealing with insurance
✅ Real updates, not radio silence
✅ A team who treats your car like their own
Whether your damage is obvious or you’re just not sure, we’ll help you sort it.
🚗 Been in a “not that bad” accident? Get it checked.
We’re Bodymatters — Stafford’s trusted car accident repair experts since 2005.
Because the only thing worse than hitting a curb… is ignoring it.
📍 Tollgate Drive, Stafford ST16 3EA
📞 01785 229162
💻 www.bodymatters-uk.com
