4 Things You Need To Know About Getting Auto Body Repairs After You File Your Car Accident Claim

If you have recently had an automotive accident, you may wonder what you need to do or know when it comes to having your car repaired. You may have sufficient automotive insurance to cover the cost of the auto body repairs. However, there are things that you need to know after you file your accident claim. Here are a few of them:

You are allowed to choose.

You do not have to have your car repaired by a specific auto body shop. Instead, your car can be serviced by the shop of your choice. In fact, it is not legal for your insurer to force you to take your vehicle to a specific vendor.

Some insurance companies do suggest certain repair shops with whom they have a network relationship. However, these shops are still independently owned. They must still collaborate with you throughout the repair process just as they would with any other customer.

You may need an estimate.

After you have made your insurance company aware of your automotive accident, the insurer  may require you to get an estimate of the damages to your car or truck. In some cases, the insurance company may assist you with the estimate by having an adjuster inspect your car's damages and estimate the cost of repair. However, in other cases, the insurance company may have you take your car to a body shop and obtain an estimate on your own.

Know your deductible.

Often, an automotive insurance policy has a deductible associated with it. The amount may generally range between $250 and $1,000. It depends on the specific details of the policy. However, the insurance company will not pay the full cost of the repairs of your vehicle. It pays its portion minus the deductible; you are expected to handle the deductible amount out-of-pocket.

Getting your vehicle repaired may reveal more damages.

After you have received the payment from your insurance company, you can move forward with having your vehicle repaired. However, you are not bound to have the vehicle repaired at the shop at which you obtained the estimate. Instead, you can select another shop or vendor to complete the restoration of your vehicle.

Still, as your vehicle is being repaired, the technicians may find additional damages that were not noticed during the initial repair estimate. In these instances, the insurance company should be advised of the additional damages and another estimate should be sent. As long as the damage is legitimate, the insurer will likely pay the additional money.

If your car has been damaged in a collision, contact an auto body repair specialist, like Select Collision Centers Inc, in your area.


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