Car Accident Repair: Tips for Finding the Right Body Shop

When you are involved in a serious car accident, whether it's with someone else or only your own car, you may be searching for a body shop to get your vehicle repaired. Choosing a body shop after an accident can be a difficult process, especially if you're also dealing with injuries caused by the accident. Picking the right body shop can make a big difference in your ability to get your vehicle back in shape and back on the road.

Not every body shop is created equal, and you want to do your research to make sure that you've selected someone who is qualified and fully prepared to fix your car. A body shop will usually take a look at your vehicle and attempt to learn more from you about how the damage happened before giving you a full quote. The quote from a body shop will usually include both expenses for the parts as well as the labor itself. 

You may wish to get quotes from multiple body shops after an accident or after car damage has occurred so that you can weigh all of your options and make a final decision based on your needs and preferences. 

In many areas, you'll have plenty of options to pick a body shop for getting your car repaired, and many people who have insurance don't even realize that they have a choice. If the insurance company tells you to take your car to a particular body shop, you certainly can pursue that route, but you'll also want to verify whether or not you have the right to choose your own body shop.

Plus, be sure to plan accordingly. Depending on the severity of the damage done to your car, you may have to pick up a rental car or rely on other transportation while your car is being fixed by the body shop. 

Some accidents can be more serious than others, and some, unfortunately, may not even be your fault. If you were in a car accident caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the expenses of your repairs, as well as other expenses like medical bills or lost income due to your injuries and inability to work. If you’ve been left with the bill for someone else’s negligence, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to see if you’re eligible to have your expenses covered.

How Do I Find the Best Body Shop to Fix My Car?

There might be plenty of good body shops in your area that do good work, and then there are some shops where people have a less positive experience. Of course, the best route to find a good body shop to repair your car is by asking friends and family who may have also had their vehicles repaired. This can include a body shop directly or even a resource such as a car dealership depending on the specifics of the damage. If you're not able to locate a body shop by speaking with friends and family for their recommendations, you may also turn to the internet. Reviews and testimonials from previous customers of that body shop can tell you a lot. 

An insurance adjuster will likely refer you to a body shop that works with them or a direct repair facility. These body shops will repair your car based on the instructions given to them by the insurance company, but this does not always mean that is a good repair in your eyes. While direct repair facilities do come frequently with lifetime warranties, it may be better for you to find your own body shop that you trust. 

If you have a personal injury case attached to your accident, it's a good idea to get several estimates for repairing your car. This can also be helpful if you are going to max out the repairs done by the insurance company and will need to pay for some of these repairs on your own. 

When you get quotes from different body shops, ask if you’re getting complete estimates or if there is a supplement, and you'll also want to know if they are using used, remanufactured, or new factory parts. 

There are many different questions that you should ask a body shop in deciding whether or not they're the right fit. Here are some common questions you’ll want to ask.

Does this shop come with a lifetime warranty? Many reputable body shops will have a lifetime warranty on the work performed on your car, and this may even transfer when you sell the car.

Does this body shop have experience working on my make and model of vehicle? You want to find a body shop that specializes in these types of cars and that can get these types of parts, and there are also specialized body shops that focus specifically on certain kinds of cars.

Have you worked with my insurance company before, and if so, have there been any problems working with them? You are not required to go to a direct repair facility based on the specifics of your insurance policy, so always read through the details of your insurance policy. You're usually able to choose the body shop that you want, give them a claim number, and then have everything handled from there. Your insurance company, however, may have specific stipulations on how they want to fix the car. For example, they may try to repair pieces of your vehicle like the front bumper rather than replacing it entirely.

Is there a chance that my estimate will go up once repairs have started? You certainly want to know whether or not your estimate can increase in the future once they start doing work. You may want to inform the body shop that they need to reach out to you and notify you about this situation as well so that you can be fully prepared for it or make a decision not to continue with the work.

What to Do After Taking Your Car to the Body Shop?

Stay in communication with your insurance carrier and the body shop directly after you have dropped your vehicle there. This will help you to understand what stage your car is at and will make you available for any questions that may pop up after your car has been taken to the location and is under repair. It is possible that the mechanics or repair specialists may find other problems while they're reviewing your vehicle, and you'll want to notify your insurance company about these as well.

Am I Required to Take the Insurance Company's Recommendation?

A recommendation for a direct repair facility or a body shop from your insurance company is only a suggestion. You are not required to use any body shop that has been recommended by your insurance company. You are free to choose your own service providers for car repair and therefore can go to anyone you want. 

There are some advantages, however, in going with the mechanic or body shop that your insurance company works with. This means that your insurance company can be your advocate. For example, in the event that a dispute arises over the work done by a body shop that you selected, you would have to deal with it on your own, whereas if you have a problem with one that the insurance company works with, you can communicate through them.

Why Do You Need to Understand What Repairs You'll Get?

Getting a comprehensive estimate for your repairs from a body shop is extremely important. The repair services paid for by your insurance company are intended to make your vehicle whole again, which does not mean brand new but rather the state it was in before the accident took place. 

This applies to any repair work done whether you use the body shop recommended by your insurance company or not. There are many different kinds of damages related to vehicle accidents, including broken tail lights, tire damage, wheel damage, vehicle body dents, scraped paint, broken mirrors, windshields, windows, and dented or torn bumpers. 

A mechanic that you've taken your vehicle to in the past for minor repairs may not have the ability or knowledge to comprehensively repair your vehicle in these situations, which is why it is always a good idea to do thorough research in selecting the right body shop.

Should I File a Personal Injury Claim?

If you've been injured in an accident and also have vehicle damage you may have two different things to worry about in recovery of compensation: getting your vehicle repaired and covering your medical bills and other expenses from the incident. Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer like those working at Morgan & Morgan to learn more about your rights.

If you have damage to your vehicle and your insurance company is not protecting your legal rights or if you're coping with severe injuries that someone else's reckless actions caused, you may need to turn to a personal injury claim to receive compensation for your injuries. Our lawyers will be there to guide you through the process if you're trying to determine your damage amount and can take the necessary next steps to fight for you.