What do I do if I am involved in an accident?

First, get all the names and addresses of all the people involved.
Also get the names of any witnesses that were not occupants of any of the vehicles.     If in doubt, call the police to avoid any confrontations. Do not admit liability to anyone
at this point.

   Notify your insurance agent or company as soon as possible. Also
   fill out a police report. Select a repair shop to repair your vehicle and leave it with them so that a proper damage report can be assessed. Notify your insurance carrier that the  car can be seen at the repair shop.

Do I need more than one estimate?

   No! State law requires that you only need one estimate unless the insurance company wants to reimburse you for the cost of obtaining any additional estimates. All shops do not repair vehicles to pre-loss condition, so be careful when selecting a repair facility.
   Never obtain an estimate from a shop that you would not want to repair your car.
   When and how do I select a qualified repair shop?
   The most opportune time to select a shop is before you are in need of their services
  . Ask friends or others for recommendations and if they were satisfied with the work  that they had done.

   When selecting a shop make sure to ask questions regarding how your vehicle will
     be repaired. Ask them about a guarantee. Ask them if they have any ties or contracts
   with your insurer that would affect the procedures used to repair your automobile.
   Ask the shop for a list of references of past customers and call those people. Make
   sure that the shop you choose is fully equipped to handle your repair. Sophisticated
   and complex vehicle designs require the use of very specialized equipment and
   knowledge of vehicle damage restoration.

   Look for training certificates and documents such as I-CAR, ASE and other information that would document that your shop is truly qualified.

What if my insurer wants me to go to one of their selected repair shops?

   Be very cautious of this type of arrangement. Insurer selected shops have usually had to make a variety of concessions to the  insurer in order to be on "The List".
   These concessions may affect the outcome of your repair and your vehicles value.
   Do not be misled by statements from your insurer that they will guarantee the repairs
   done at these shops. If there is a problem with the repair, they will tell you to return to
   the original shop that did the repairs and take your complaint up with that repairer.
   These programs are dollar driven and usually designed to take you, the owner, out of
   the  picture. Again be cautious. Look what happened when insurers took over the
   medical field.

Why are today's vehicles so different to repair?

   Vehicles today are mostly of unitized construction, which means that the vehicle has no frame, but that all the sheet metal components are welded together for a solid structure.
   Unibody design allows the manufacturer to design energy management into the
   vehicle and this controlled damage absorption helps to protect the driver and     passengers  in the vehicle in the event of a collision.
   These vehicles also have computer driven systems and mechanical components that can also be damaged in a collision and the repair shop must have the knowledge and equipment to repair all these systems. Supplemental restraint systems (air bags ) and other design characteristics must be restored to pre-Loss condition so that in the event of another collision these systems will function the way they were designed to. The structural integrity of the vehicle must be totally restored in order to maintain vehicle safety and the safety of you and your family.

What can I do to help insure that my vehicle is repaired correctly?

     You must be involved in the repair process right from the beginning. Do not allow the insurer or the shop to take you out of the loop. Tell them you must be kept abreast of all decisions regarding how your vehicle is to be repaired.
     You may have to discuss certain facets of the repair with your insurer and your selected shop. Your insurer is responsible to repair the car back to its pre-loss condition. Don't accept anything less. Ask questions if there is something that you do not understand. If your insurer can't agree with your repair shop, you may have to assist the shop in order to get the insurer to do what is necessary.
   Remember the repair shop is the collision Repair Professional, not the
   Insurer although they may pretend to be Keep in mind:The more you question things, the better the results will be. You can also e-mail us if you need any questions answered.

What is "Diminished Value" or "Loss In Value"?

     Diminished value in a vehicle takes place after the vehicle has
     been in a collision and repaired. There are 3 basic types of
     diminished value.

     1. PERCEIVED. This is the loss in value that is a result of the
     vehicle being in a collision and repaired. Simply put; All areas
     being equal car that has been damaged is not worth the same as
     one that has not been damaged.

    2. REPAIRER. This is the loss related to the vehicle being
     repaired improperly. The repair shop may not have used quality
     parts & factory procedures to repair the vehicle even though the
     insurer involved had requested and paid for a proper repair. Lack
     of training and up to date repair methods are usually the cause of
     the problem.

     3.INSURER. This is the loss in value that is caused by the insurer
     not paying, in full, or, at all, for the necessary procedures that
     are necessary to restore the loss. The insurance company will try
     to strong-arm the repairer into cutting corners so that the
     cheapest repair possible is paid for. This is when the consumer is
     taken out of the picture and both the repair shop and the insurer
     conspire to cheat the consumer. When this fraud is exposed the
     insurer will then put the blame onto the repair shop. Don't get
     caught in this trap. Select a competent repair facility.
     REMEMBER THIS! You must be involved in all the discussions
     regarding the repair of your vehicle. If you are not willing to do
     this, you WILL get taken advantage of.