Trouble Getting Car Repaired After An Accident?

Trouble getting car repaired after an accident? People work hard for their cars.  Whether its a part-time job while still in school to get that first used car or the luxury car you’ve worked so hard for in your adult life, cars are special.  Getting cars repaired or paid for can be the difference between staying in good standing at your school or job and thus, it is important to deal with the insurance companies efficiently and correctly.

Picking a Reputable Shop to Get Your Car Repaired After an Accident

In California, you have the right to select your shop of choice and you DO NOT have to use one suggested by the insurance company.  The first thing that will usually happen is that the insurance company of the person who hit you will send out a person to investigate the damage.  that person will then come up with an estimate (usually minimal and incomplete) and will give you a copy of that estimate to take to a shop of your choice and sometimes they will give you a check for the amount of the estimate.

With that said, it is important to find the right place that will do the work right and seek out verifiable damages.  When you take your car to the shop, they will then do a full inspection (put the car up on a lift) and find damage to the vehicle missed by the initial inspection.  From that point on, the shop will deal directly with the insurance company so that the insurance company can verify the additional damage and approve the costs of fixing it.  You do not want a body shop in Tijuana handling this.

How Will You Get Around While Your Car is Getting Repaired After an Accident?

While your vehicle is in the shop, you have the right to a rental paid for by the insurance of the person that hit you.  Most insurance companies will not pay for insuring the rental vehicle, so you should review your own insurance to see if a rental vehicle is covered to prevent you spending money unnecessarily.   Don’t forget that you’re entitled to a vehicle of the same quality.

What if you have a second vehicle that you can use?  You are entitled to the loss of use of your vehicle while it is in the shop.  This is generally arrived at by figuring out what the daily rental value of your car is.  For example, if you drive a 2015 Nissan Altima, the rental value might be $30 per day.  If your car is in the shop for 10 days, you would be able to assert a claim for $300.

The ins and outs of when the vehicle is declared a total loss will be dealt with in a future post.

If you need help or have questions with regard to your damaged vehicle,  the attorneys at Ray Padilla Law, APC will be happy to discuss your potential case with you for free. Call (619) 431-1187.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. If you require legal assistance, we highly recommend you speak to a qualified attorney. By reading this post, you agree this information is for informational use only and agree to hold Ray Padilla Law, APC harmless for any losses or damages as a result of this information.