| If you are involved in
an accident you must: |
-
Stop at once.
Report the accident to the nearest police station.
-
See if anyone is
injured. If injuries
appear serious, call an ambulance. If you appear hurt, seek treatment promptly.
-
Write a complete
description of the accident as soon as possible.
-
Submit required
accident reports to the proper authorities.
-
Notify your
insurance company.
|
| You are not required
to: |
-
Give a signed
statement to the claims adjuster representing the other driver’s
insurance company.
-
Obtain more than
one estimate.
-
Take your car to a
shop specified by your insurance agent or to any drive-in claims
center for inspection.
-
Accept a check for
repair of your car until you are confident that it covers all
necessary repairs.
-
Sign any insurance
company release until every repair has been completed to your
satisfaction.
|
|
Remember:
You deserve the best. Don’t settle for less!
|
Bet you didn’t know…
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident you have the right to: |
| - Choose your own
body shop. |
| Have your car towed to the
shop of your choice. Don’t let your insurance company specify a shop
so they can receive a discount on your repairs. Call your insurance
company and advise them of your vehicle’s location. Let your body shop
go over the damage with your insurance company representatives.
|
|
| - Have your car
restored to pre-accident condition. |
| Your car should look and
perform the way it did before the accident. Even minor cosmetic damage
should be repaired at this time. Every little nick or chip can lead to
rust damage later and will deduct from the value of your car.
|
| The importance of
genuine replacement parts: |
|
Don’t be fooled by
“lifetime warranties” on imitation parts. Significant additional
costs can be incurred if these warranties do not include labor.
If the insurance
company insists on imitation parts, ask for proof that they are equal to
genuine parts in terms of fit, finish and corrosion protection. In
making your final decision of which parts to use, consider the hidden
cost of future repairs, reduced resale value, and the possible risk to
passenger safety which you may have to face one day.
|
| Commonly Asked Questions |
| - Question: Should I
take my car to a drive-in claims center? |
| - Answer: No! Today’s
automobiles are too complex for an accurate visual estimate. A drive-in
claims center often doesn’t have the equipment needed for examining
your vehicle properly. And even if it does, it doesn’t have a
representative from your body shop to make certain that all the damage
is assessed. There is only one place for the adjuster to examine your
vehicle: at the shop of your choice!
|
| - Question: How long
will the repairs take? |
| - Answer: A good body
shop will take the time to do the job right. Sometimes it may encounter
delays when necessary parts are not available locally. Expect an
estimate of when the work will be done, not a promise.
|
| - Question: What do I
do if my insurance company and body shop cannot agree on the cost of
repairs? |
| - Answer: Be aware of
“Appraisal Clause” in your insurance policy. If the insurance
company and body shop cannot agree on what the repairs should cost, this
could provide a means for fair settlement.
|
| - Question: What if my
body shop requests a supplementary allowance once repairs have begun? |
| - Answer: Every
appraiser is required to reinspect damaged vehicles when supplementary
allowances are requested by repair shops.
|
| - Question: What if my
insurance company insists on another estimate? |
| - Answers: Your
adjuster can obtain a competitive estimate from another shop only by
having that shop’s owner or his authorized agent physically inspect
your automobile.
|
| - Question: Am I
required to accept this estimate? |
- Answers: No. Do not
be pressured into having work done by a shop simply because of a lower
price.
|
