Things To Do After an Accident

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If you've been involved in an accident:

  1. Check to see if anyone is injured.
  2. Contact the local police department.
  3. Keep calm and don't panic.
  4. Find a quality repair facility you can trust. If you don't know of one, ask your family, co-workers, and friends.  If they  don't know one, call your local dealer for a recommendation.  If your vehicle is towed from the accident, the towing service may also be able to recommend someone. Never take your  vehicle where the insurance company is trying to send you.  Reasons why are found throughout this website.
  5. After choosing a repair facility, notify the insurance company where the vehicle will be repaired.

What is Steering?

  • "You may have out of pocket expenses if you choose that shop."
  • "We are unable to warranty repairs if you go there."
  • "They won't agree with our appraiser's estimate." 
  • "We've had a hard time with that shop, and are unable to work with them." 
  • "They are not on our preferred list."
  • "If you go to a non-preferred shop, your repair may be delayed while waiting for an adjuster to inspect the vehicle." 
  • "If you choose our "preferred" shop we can pay them directly and it will be handled faster."

It's your Choice

How to Choose a Quality Body Shop

 

1. The shop should offer a "Lifetime Warranty" on its body work, and a minimum of  "5 years", preferably "Lifetime" on refinishing.

2. Ask the repair facility if they use new "Original Equipment Manufacturer" parts, purchased from the dealer, or counterfeit (imitation) parts. If the shop says they use counterfeit parts, or aftermarket parts, leave immediately. No one can perform quality work with junk parts.

3. Ask the body shop the insurance company refers you to if they can recommend a quality non-drp facility in your area, they may be willing to help. You may be surprised how many drp shops would like to see drp programs go away.

4. Tour the facility and look at the quality of work and cleanliness of the operation. Examine finished jobs and jobs in progress.

5. Ask the shop if they have any affiliation with insurance company DRP's. If they are  under contract to work for any specific insurance company, they cannot work for you. Working for both sides is not ethical. Look for a repair facility without insurance company ties.

6. Verify the repair facility is registered with your state's Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Board, and is a member in good standing.

7. Check with friends, co-workers, mechanics, or towing companies for a recommendation on a repair facility.

8. Never listen to an insurance representative who has a friend that they can recommend. Remember their bonus is tied to "low prices". In addition, the adjuster may secure favors (free work or cash) for recommending shops.

9. Be wary of repair quotes that are significantly lower from that of a quality repair facility. What are they not doing in the repair process that will affect the safety, appearance, and value of your vehicle?

10. Visit our Facebook page and see if the repair facility you are considering has liked us. If they have, they are most likely not partnered with an insurance company in a direct repair relationship.

Top Questions to ask the Insurance "Preferred" DRP Shop

  • Are you repairing the vehicle for me, or the insurance company? 

  • Will you be using junkyard, imitation, or recycled parts on my vehicle? 

  • Will you be repairing parts that should be replaced? 

  • Are you going to cut corners on this repair to save the insurance company money, in return for them sending you more work?

  • Will you discuss what the insurance company owes me on my vehicles' diminished value? 

  •  Will you inform me of my right to invoke the appraisal clause while negotiating with my Insurance Company? 

Repairing Your Vehicle

It's your vehicle, It's your choice!

 Don't let the insurance company dictate the terms of your vehicle repair. It's your vehicle. It's your choice! You make the decisions! 

Research Reputable Shops

 If the vehicle is drivable, we recommend you choose a repair facility you are comfortable with. Notify the responsible insurance company, tell them where you will be getting the vehicle repaired. A reputable shop will handle the repair process for you!

Multiple Estimates are not Necessary

 NOTE: You are not required to get more than one estimate for your vehicle. That estimate should be from the shop of your choice. If the insurance company writes their own estimate for the vehicle, take this estimate and the vehicle to the shop of your choice. That shop will make sure the vehicle is repaired properly.

You Don't Have to Move Your Vehicle

 If the vehicle is not driveable, chances are it will be towed from the scene by a local towing service approved by law enforcement. They are required to take it to a secure storage facility.  THAT IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR YOUR VEHICLE! LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE IN THIS STORAGE FACILITY UNTIL YOU HAVE SELECTED YOUR PREFERRED REPAIR FACILITY, OR IN THE CASE OF A TOTAL LOSS, DO NOT LET THE INSURANCE COMPANY MOVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED A REASONABLE SETTLEMENT. INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE OFFERING 20-30% LESS THAN WHAT THEY RIGHTFULLY OWE YOU IN MOST CASES.