Car Repair Services: What to Know

Following a car accident or any event that damaged your car, your next step will likely be to search for nearby car repair services. Car repair services can run the spectrum from a neighborhood mechanic to a dealership’s in-house services, and which car repair services you choose to work with will depend on your situation. If you've been involved in an accident where someone else was responsible for your injuries, your insurance company may suggest car repair services for you, for instance.

If the damage to your vehicle was caused by someone else’s negligence, driving, or deliberate actions, you may be owed compensation that can be used to cover the costs of your vehicle repairs. You can easily contact the car accident lawyers at Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation to learn more.

Choosing the Right Car Repair Service

Knowing what to expect from car repair services when you have vehicle damage is extremely important because it will help you remain a savvy consumer and maximize the repairs made to your car while minimizing various expenses. When faced with the possibility of expensive auto repair work, the vast majority of consumers want to get the best work possible for the most reasonable cost. 

Customers are entitled to a variety of different benefits depending on where they live.  Certain rights may be outlined in your local or state municipal codes, such as getting a written estimate for repair work, a detailed invoice of the work that was done and any parts supplied, and details about warranties. Make sure you do research in your local area to make sure you understand what you are entitled to in this situation. 

There are some other things you can keep in mind when selecting car repair services to fix the damage to your vehicle. The first of these is to determine whether or not the motor vehicle repair shop is licensed. If a company does not have an appropriate license as a motor vehicle repair shop, they may have mechanics who are not appropriately trained in auto repair. 

These shops may be operating in violation of local, city, or state codes and could cause significant problems with your vehicle. You can always research online to determine whether or not a car repair services location is licensed. Your research shouldn't stop there either. It is your job to do as much additional research as possible to make sure that you've selected the right car repair service provider. Doing your research ahead of time empowers you with information from other consumers that can help you avoid costly and painful experiences. For example, you may not realize that a company has significant complaints filed against them until you do some research with the Better Business Bureau. 

Finding out that a car repair services location has numerous unresolved complaints with a Better Business Bureau may send you in a different direction, saving you time, frustration, and headaches. Not all car repair services are created equal, and thankfully, today we have access to many different resources where we can see reviews from other consumers before making our own decisions. Look on places like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Google reviews, and even Facebook to learn more about other customers’ experiences. If you see consistent problems popping up with car repair services, it is best to avoid using that location. 

Other Tips for Dealing With Car Repair Services and Mechanics

Another tip with car repair services is to make sure you're taking repair suggestions with a grain of salt. Many different dealerships and mechanics will find other problems as they're looking to fix the original ones. It is especially important that you review all of this information and provide it to your insurance company if you're currently involved in a lawsuit or pending case regarding an auto insurance negligence accident. Your insurance company needs to have the full picture of any and all damages done to your vehicle so that they can approve the necessary repairs. You may also need to hire an experienced insurance or personal injury attorney to help you navigate this process and to ensure that you are not taken advantage of by the insurance carrier—or the mechanic. Compare all shops to get the best deal and make sure that you do your research on their reviews as well. 

You want to strike a balance between a car repair service provider who has a good price, especially if you are contributing to the cost of car repair services yourself, and also does quality work. 

Another tip for working with car repair services is to keep your own copy of a detailed repair history of any vehicle. Any duplicate work done in place of incompetent or sloppy work may rely on evidence such as repair history from previous vehicles. If you end up in court down the road, having your record may be beneficial. 

If you have recently come into problems with car repair services, the first line of defense is to contact the manager of the local facility. This makes it easier for you to try resolving things on your own which will likely come up in court if the other side does not want to pay for the repairs made. It will be extremely beneficial if you can show that you made a good-faith effort to contact the manager with your concerns and that you were not taken seriously. All of these tips, of course, are much easier to abide by with the support of a qualified and knowledgeable lawyer. If you are wondering how a car accident lawyer can help you with your car repair services, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to learn more.

What if I Have Problems With Car Repair Services?

Unfortunately, even after doing all your due diligence and contacting an experienced repair shop mechanic, you may realize that you are dealing with a repair job that was not completed appropriately. Depending on the specifics of the situation, you may have grounds to pursue compensation in court, and this should always be done only with the help of an experienced and qualified attorney. 

Sometimes insurance companies or even a car repair services shop themselves may not take your case seriously and may try to get away with shoddy or low-quality work. It can be shocking as a consumer who has already made a payment to realize that your vehicle is not fully repaired or broke down soon after you thought it was fully fixed. In this case, you can consult with a qualified and dedicated lawyer who will advise you about your next steps. An experienced car accident lawyer will know exactly how to handle this situation, can help you avoid making common mistakes, and empower you with the details needed to bring a strong case against the insurance company or the car repair services shop.

What if a Car Repair Shop Doesn't Fix My Car?

The best-case scenario is that the first car repair services you work with completely repairs your vehicle in full. Unfortunately, there are many different problems that can emerge after you have hired a car repair shop. You may realize that the work was not done to specifications or that the refurbished parts were used when you paid for new parts. When you encounter consumer protection problems with a car repair shop, you may need to hire an experienced and dedicated lawyer to help you file a lawsuit. You also may be able to file a claim with the BBB or attorney general about these matters to help you get justice and to notify other people about these problems. 

It's hard enough dealing with the fallout of an accident. You don't also need to worry about what happens with your car repair legal claim if the body shop didn't do the work correctly. Make sure that you have your legal case evaluated and discuss all possible avenues for resolution. You may discover that you have multiple options available to you and you may be able to get your car fixed as well as to recover compensation for any body shop that broke the law. 

Why Hire Knowledgeable Attorneys?

The right attorneys can make a world of difference in the outcome of your case. The attorneys at Morgan & Morgan have extensive experience in resolving insurance bad faith disputes, as well as helping victims in personal injury accidents who are attempting to recover and move on with their lives. You do not need to be alone when you're navigating these complex situations and your decision to work with a qualified attorney like those on the Morgan & Morgan team could help you avoid unnecessary frustration throughout the legal process. Don't hesitate to look at our reviews and discover what past clients have had to say about working with us. When it comes to problems with car repair services and ensuing legal claims, we have the right experience and knowledge to help you out.

Our lawyers know that it is challenging to find yourself in a position to recover compensation with car repair services. You may have two different types of legal claims that may fall under the umbrella of what an attorney can help you with. For example, if you can show that car repair services were not completed accurately, you may have a consumer protection claim. If your car repair services, however, are also part of a personal injury claim due to negligence, you need to make sure that you protect your rights in full so that you can recover the full range of compensation. 

The knowledgeable attorneys at Morgan & Morgan are here to answer your questions about what it means to file a civil claim lawsuit and any action steps you need to take to protect all of your legal rights. 

Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to get started.