Being involved in a traffic accident is bad for so many ways that it seems almost irrelevant to talk about it. Apart from the injuries the people can suffer, there is a lot to worry in about in terms of damage to the vehicles. Being the victim is the better option because the other person’s insurance, as well as your own, will usually cover the repairs to your vehicle. When you are at fault though, it could be a very expensive endeavor even if you have a good insurance policy.
Those who have been involved in accidents start worrying about car repairs immediately after the initial craziness has settled down and once they have some time to themselves. Depending on the severity of the crash, the damage could be a few broken lights, scratches, or bends, to a whole lot less like new engine parts being needed or the whole side of the car requiring a complete repair. Whatever the case may be, you cannot possibly do it alone. Therefore, some help from the professionals is in order.
If you would like to know how to get your car repaired after an accident, we have you covered. This article has all the answers you need to get your vehicle back on the road. If you need further assistance regarding the repairs as well as some property damage claim help, make sure to check out Butler Law Firm.
1. Contact Your Insurance Company
First and foremost, you should let your insurance company what has happened. They should be involved and contacted almost immediately so that they can get all the paperwork and practices in order. You do not want to wait too long for this as the sooner you are done with it, the sooner you can go back to driving your car. You will have surely already exchanged the information with the other driver so your two insurance companies will have the basis to work on. Making insurance claims requires filling out some paperwork so head on over to their office to complete it. You may be able to do it online as well. This is an important step and many drivers involved in accidents fail to realize just how important.
2. Pick a Body Shop
Insurance companies usually have nothing to do with the body shop or a mechanic you choose and they will never point you to the one and tell you to go there. They could however have a list of their preferred mechanics to make this part of the whole ordeal easier. Still, you will need to pay close attention and do your research before you commit to a car body shop. If you pick a place your insurance company usually collaborates with, things may be done sooner. If you have a body shop you trust, go with them. The worst thing here is when the driver has no clue where to go since it is (thank god) their first accident. In that case, you will want to check the mechanic’s ASE certification and ask if they are affiliated with any bigger companies. Think about the brand and the model of your car and evaluate if the body shop is capable of helping you. Ask about your warranty and what their practices are regarding cases like yours. You should also read the online reviews about the mechanic you are considering to learn about the first hand experiences of their past customers. Finally, ask them if they have original or aftermarket parts.
3. Stay in Touch
While you will not be directly responsible for the repairs to your car, you will want to stay involved in the entire process throughout its end. Provided that you pick a trustworthy and experienced body shop to perform the repairs, it would be a smart move to ask them about their progress every few days or so just to stay in touch. They should have no problem updating you on the progress and you can either call their customer support or send them an email. In modern times, mechanics are more hands on with their customers as everyone is using modern communication technologies and social media to increase customer happiness and engagement. Use this to ask them how it is going and whether or not you need to come down for a chat. Also remember that you have a say in the way your car gets repaired and that they should always contact you before they make an impactful decision. You do not have to agree with their plan, or you may want them to do extra things. The biggest issue usually surrounds the replacement of parts and the additional costs, as well as the time repairs take.
4. Totaled and Not Drivable Cars
If your car is not drivable following the accident, you will have a few extra things to worry about. The insurance company is there to help and issue additional services like towing directly to a repair shop. Here, it is important you have it delivered to another shop if you want, especially if it has been towed to a salvage yard and is awaiting further pickup. Do this as soon as possible to prevent additional charges and issues. In case the car is totaled, in the sense that it is a total loss and that it cannot be fixed, you will again have to deal with many additional things with your insurance provider. In most cases, they will calculate the amount of money you would have got if you had sold the car prior to the crash. This is called a fair market value. Then they will compare the price to the estimated repair cost, plus the salvaging, towing, and other charges. Once they have the two sums, they will pay you the lesser one as compensation. This is usually something clients are unwilling to do, but then again, it takes a lot of luck for the car to be totaled, you to go unscathed, and get a fair compensation.
