How to Fix a Car
Even the most cautious of drivers can get into car accidents. After all, accidents usually happen very quickly and without warning. When that happens, many folks often wonder, where do I start? What do I do? If you’re wondering how you go about repairing a car after an accident, the first thing you should know is that you have options, some of which you may not even be aware of.
Understanding Who’s At Fault
If you’ve been in an accident, you want to know right away who’s going to repair your car and how much it’s going to cost. The answer to both questions really depends on where the accident occurs, specifically the state, how is at fault for the accident, and insurance among other issues. Unless you live in a no-fault state, liability i.e. fault, in a car accident is always based on negligence. In a fault state, a driver must prove the other driver was negligent in order to get damages from an insurer or the driver. It’s important to note that in a fault-based state, an insurance company is only going to pay for damages up to the policy limits of the other driver. What does that mean? It means if the other driver was at fault in an accident and caused $12,000 of damage to your car, but only has $6,000 worth of coverage, then the insurance company will only pay $6,000 toward your repairs. In cases where you’re at fault for your vehicle’s damage, especially in cases where you might drive off the road, or run into a tree or fence, you have to pay for the damage yourself or make a claim against your own insurance policy’s coverage.
You Can Choose The Insurance Company
Repairing a car after an accident is a necessary undertaking if you want to get back on the road. If you get into an accident and you’re not at fault, then you can choose which insurance company you want to use to get your car repaired. One option you have is to use your own insurance agency to get your car fixed. You’re already paying for insurance through that company and being provided with coverage, so in some ways, it’s a no-brainer. Plus, you more than likely have comprehensive coverage and collision coverage to deal with just this sort of thing. If you are paying for comprehensive coverage, then you may only have to pay $500 or $600 when all is said and done, depending on your deductible.
Going through your own insurance can also potentially help get your car back on the road faster. Since there are no questions about liability before a claim is paid. Once you pay your deductible, you should be all set, and just have to wait for the repairs to be done. If you have to go through another insurance agency for any reason, the agency will need to first determine liability. If the other party is found to be at fault, it can make the claim process a little quicker. If determining fault is harder, however, then the agency may have to wait on the police report to determine liability. If the other part is found to be at fault, the agency will owe you money through tort, which essentially means one party owes a legal duty to another party.
You Can Choose The Shop
Depending on which insurance company you go through, some of them may have preferred auto body collision repair shops that they use. But for repairing a car after an accident, you definitely have more options than the two or three they are likely to provide. You can always take those suggestions, but you aren’t obligated to. In some instances, it may be quick and easy to do this because those two or three shops are familiar with your insurance company and the way they conduct business. The good thing about this is that the shop is motivated to keep costs down to satisfy the insurance company. It’s a good bet the shop does quality work too, in order to keep work flowing in. Should you opt to have your car repaired at another collision shop, your insurance company may tell you that auto repairs must be made for the same amount as one of their preferred shops or their adjuster bid. In some cases, insurance companies may require you to get bids from as many as three different shops. Once that’s done, the company then approves the median amount.
You Can Fix It (Or Not)
Believe it or not, repairing a car after an accident is a choice that’s entirely yours.
There are four main causes of auto body damage: fender benders, high-speed collisions, negligence, and weather. Depending on which of those categories your vehicle falls under, you may not need full-scale repairs. If your car is damaged, but not totaled, and still drivable, you can also take it to a shop to have it fixed yourself. Ultimately, it comes down to how you feel driving a car that perhaps looks a little banged up. An insurance company owes you money for repairs, whether you get the car repaired or not. So if you prefer getting cash to getting a repair done, that’s your choice. The catch to that is if you do need to get a particular part of your car repaired in the future, the insurance company may not cover that. Another option you have is to get estimates on repairs from auto body shops. Once you’ve got that information, you can then take your car to a mechanic friend, or someone who can do the work for less money. You also want to consider that if you currently have a lender on your vehicle, then repairing a car after an accident is a good idea. This is a good idea so that you don’t run into problems if you try to sell the car at some point. Body damage can cause the value of a car to drop significantly and can cause car owners to go upside down on a loan, where they owe more on the loan than the car is actually worth. So if you’ve been in an accident and you need some extensive repairs done like hydraulic pump repair, to restore your power steering or automatic brakes, don’t hesitate to get that work done. If you own your car free and clear, and you have minimal damage in the aftermath of an accident, you may choose to not even make an insurance claim. This is especially true for car-animal collisions. For example, if you have a car-deer accident where you hit a deer and you bust a headlight, you can buy parts from an auto parts store, and fix the headlight yourself.
