Suspension does not usually fail outright. It degrades, and because it degrades slowly, most people stop noticing how the car used to feel.
Struts and shocks, bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends and springs. Colorado roads and a hard winter are unkind to all of them.
Worn suspension changes your braking distance and how much tire is actually touching the road. It is also the most common reason an alignment will not hold: a car can be aligned perfectly, and if a component underneath is loose it simply moves again.
If suspension parts are being replaced, the alignment is done afterwards. Doing it first means paying for it twice.
If it has been hit and it also needs mechanical work, it does not need to go anywhere else.