Been In An Accident? 4 Things You Need To Know About The Repairs To Your Car

If your winter has been interrupted by a car accident, it's time to start worrying about the repairs. Unfortunately, getting your car repaired after a car accident can be a real headache, especially if you've never dealt with insurance companies before. Here are four things you need to know that will help take some of the stress out of your auto repairs.

You Don't Have to Wait for Their Insurance

If your car has been damaged in a car accident, you want to take care of the repairs as quickly as possible. If you're planning to use the other driver's insurance, you'll need to wait for authorization. Unfortunately, it can take several weeks for the other insurance company to accept liability. If you have comprehensive coverage for your car, you don't have to wait for their insurance company to assume liability. Instead, you can have your insurance company take care of the repairs for you. That won't make your premiums go up. Your insurance company will simply take care of the repairs and send the bill to the other insurance company.

You Don't Have to Use a Specific Repair Shop

Your insurance company may give you a list of authorized repair shops. Those are the shops that they have a professional relationship with. However, that doesn't mean that you need to use any of the shops on the list. You are free to go with a repair shop of your own choosing. This option allows you to choose an auto body shop that you feel comfortable working with.

You Don't Have to Get the Repairs

If the damage to your car is minor and mainly cosmetic, you don't have to get the repairs. You can opt to keep the money instead. Take your car in for several estimates and then submit them to your insurance company. Once they accept one of the estimates, simply tell them that you prefer to take the cash. It's important to note that you should never drive a car that has serious structural damage to it. Not only that, but leaving even minor damage in disrepair can lead to additional damage, such as rust.

You Don't Have to Hand Over a Totaled Car

If your car has been totaled in an accident, the insurance company will look at the estimate for repairs. If the cost of repairs will be higher than the actual value of your car, the insurance company will give you the cash value instead. In most cases, totaled cars are then shipped off to the salvage yard. However, if you want to keep your totaled car to work on as a side project, you can. Simply have the insurance company deduct the salvage price from your settlement.

For information about auto repair, contact a company like Prime Body & Paint. 

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