Tips on Getting Your Car or Motorcycle Fixed After an Auto Accident
After getting into an auto accident, it can really throw a wrench in your life.
Dealing with medical problems from the accident and a damaged vehicle can take considerable time.
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding getting your car fixed.
Question: Do I have to take my car to the body shop that the insurance company tells me to? Answer: That would be a NO.
You actually probably shouldn't take your car to the body shop preferred by the insurance company.
The insurance company has likely made a deal where the body shop agrees to discount their usual charges by 10 to 20% or more.
This makes it more likely the body shop will cut corners in repairing your vehicle in order to make a profit and keep the bill to the insurance company low.
If your car has suffered any unusual damage such as damage to the transmission, an insurance company preferred body shop will likely not support you against the insurance company.
Question: Then where should I take my vehicle to get repaired? Answer: You should take it to a major dealer body shop or to a body shop where you or a friend know the owner personally.
Often times your personal injury attorney may have a recommendation based on client experiences, not on a "kick back".
Bottom line is your body shop should work for you, not the insurance company.
Question: I was driving an older car that was paid off.
My insurance company says it will cost more to fix the fender than the car is worth.
But, the other insurance company says the car is only worth $700.
I can't replace my car for that.
What should I do? Answer: The insurance company is only obligated to pay you for the fair market value of your car before the accident.
Fair market value is based on actual selling prices.
The Blue Book value is not based on local selling prices and is usually not even considered by insurance adjustors.
Most insurance companies subscribe to a computer service which may be slanted to produce very low prices on vehicles.
It doesn't work to tell the adjustor your car is worth more because he will simply shrug his shoulders and say "Sorry that's what the computer says.
" If you want to get the maximum value for your totaled vehicle, you need to give the adjustor some written proof of the value of your car.
The first place to check to determine the fair market value is in the "Auto Trader" magazine or the regular newspaper classified ads.
Find the closest vehicles to what you have, circle them and give a copy of the page to the adjustor if it's more than what the adjustor is offering.
An adjustor may tell you those prices are only "asking prices", but frequently you will prove the adjustors offer is way too low regardless of the prices you show him from the ads.
Question: What if my vehicle is rare, restored, or has a lot of custom equipment? Answer: You may need the services of an independent appraiser.
An experience personal injury attorney should be able to provide a free referral to a independent appraiser.
Question: The insurance company said if I take my vehicle to one of their repair shops then they guarantee the results.
Isn't that a good reason to take my vehicle where they want me to? Answer: No it is not.
Any body shop has an obligation to repair your vehicle completely.
They aren't entitled to full payment until they do.
If you take your vehicle to a quality body shop not connected to the insurance company you will usually get more attention paid to important details like lining up side moldings, wheel alignment, paint matching, etc.
Question: How many estimates do I have to get? Answer: Only one.
Once you get an estimate from a reliable body shop, it's up to the other insurance company to dispute it if they want to.
They will often tell you to drive your car into a drive-in estimating location.
You can comply with this, however, if you have already provided an estimate to the insurance company, they have to send someone out to look at your vehicle.
This may slow down the settlement check process, so it's up to you.
Getting your own estimate can ensure that theirs includes the complete damage and provide excellent proof to the adjustor.
Dealing with medical problems from the accident and a damaged vehicle can take considerable time.
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding getting your car fixed.
Question: Do I have to take my car to the body shop that the insurance company tells me to? Answer: That would be a NO.
You actually probably shouldn't take your car to the body shop preferred by the insurance company.
The insurance company has likely made a deal where the body shop agrees to discount their usual charges by 10 to 20% or more.
This makes it more likely the body shop will cut corners in repairing your vehicle in order to make a profit and keep the bill to the insurance company low.
If your car has suffered any unusual damage such as damage to the transmission, an insurance company preferred body shop will likely not support you against the insurance company.
Question: Then where should I take my vehicle to get repaired? Answer: You should take it to a major dealer body shop or to a body shop where you or a friend know the owner personally.
Often times your personal injury attorney may have a recommendation based on client experiences, not on a "kick back".
Bottom line is your body shop should work for you, not the insurance company.
Question: I was driving an older car that was paid off.
My insurance company says it will cost more to fix the fender than the car is worth.
But, the other insurance company says the car is only worth $700.
I can't replace my car for that.
What should I do? Answer: The insurance company is only obligated to pay you for the fair market value of your car before the accident.
Fair market value is based on actual selling prices.
The Blue Book value is not based on local selling prices and is usually not even considered by insurance adjustors.
Most insurance companies subscribe to a computer service which may be slanted to produce very low prices on vehicles.
It doesn't work to tell the adjustor your car is worth more because he will simply shrug his shoulders and say "Sorry that's what the computer says.
" If you want to get the maximum value for your totaled vehicle, you need to give the adjustor some written proof of the value of your car.
The first place to check to determine the fair market value is in the "Auto Trader" magazine or the regular newspaper classified ads.
Find the closest vehicles to what you have, circle them and give a copy of the page to the adjustor if it's more than what the adjustor is offering.
An adjustor may tell you those prices are only "asking prices", but frequently you will prove the adjustors offer is way too low regardless of the prices you show him from the ads.
Question: What if my vehicle is rare, restored, or has a lot of custom equipment? Answer: You may need the services of an independent appraiser.
An experience personal injury attorney should be able to provide a free referral to a independent appraiser.
Question: The insurance company said if I take my vehicle to one of their repair shops then they guarantee the results.
Isn't that a good reason to take my vehicle where they want me to? Answer: No it is not.
Any body shop has an obligation to repair your vehicle completely.
They aren't entitled to full payment until they do.
If you take your vehicle to a quality body shop not connected to the insurance company you will usually get more attention paid to important details like lining up side moldings, wheel alignment, paint matching, etc.
Question: How many estimates do I have to get? Answer: Only one.
Once you get an estimate from a reliable body shop, it's up to the other insurance company to dispute it if they want to.
They will often tell you to drive your car into a drive-in estimating location.
You can comply with this, however, if you have already provided an estimate to the insurance company, they have to send someone out to look at your vehicle.
This may slow down the settlement check process, so it's up to you.
Getting your own estimate can ensure that theirs includes the complete damage and provide excellent proof to the adjustor.
