A fender for absorbing forces generated from an impact includes a depending attachment flange which comprises a vertically aligned section depending from an exterior portion of the fender and a horizontally aligned section depending from the vertically aligned section adapted for mounting to a vehicle wherein the vertically aligned section includes vertically aligned section including a plurality of reinforcing sections for increasing the stiffness of the vertically aligned section and a plurality of openings for reducing the stiffness of said vertically aligned section wherein each of said openings is positioned adjacent a respective reinforcing.