What does a shock absorber actually do?

Bad or defective shock absorbers increase the risk of an accident enormously.
Half of all accidents with cars over 10 years old are due to damaged dampers! But it's not just age, but driving style, mileage, road conditions and frequent payloads that cause the dampers to wear out more quickly.
Braking distance, ABS, ESP and how the car behaves when cornering are directly related to the condition of the shock absorbers. Shock absorbers are among the most important safety-relevant parts on the car!!! Choose branded products, don't skimp on your safety!