Being involved in an accident can be overwhelming. Once you’ve ensured everyone is safe and have assessed the damage, you may find yourself asking “What happens next?” RF Collision is here to help. Here’s eight things you should know about having your vehicle repaired following an accident.
1. You Have the Right to Go to the Repair Shop of Your Choice
Your insurance company may offer you a list of repair shops you could go bring your vehicle to, but by law, they cannot require you to follow any of their suggestions. You have the freedom to choose whatever collision center you want.
When you’re considering an auto body shop, there are a few things you should consider. You want a body shop that offers:
- Free, quick estimates
- I-Car Gold Class or ASE-certified service technicians
- A lifetime warranty on all repairs
- Meticulous attention to detail and quality control
- A computerized paint-matching system
RF Collision offers all of this and more, so you know your vehicle is in good hands when you choose us.
2. There Is No Law Requiring You to Obtain More Than One Estimate
When you bring your vehicle into an auto body shop for repairs following an accident, the first step is to get an estimate for the work that needs to be done. Thankfully, there is no law requiring you to get multiple quotes before repair work can begin. RF Collision has an insurance estimator right on location, so it’s easy for us to get an estimate to your insurance company fast.
We work directly with your insurance company to ensure your estimate is covered, so there’s no need for you to act as the middleman between the body shop and your insurance company. We’ll handle the entire negotiation process for you.
3. Differences In Repair Estimates Are Common
If you do decide to get multiple estimates from different shops, there’s a good chance there might be variations between them. That’s because some repair shops may not include labor or the smaller finishing touches that will have your vehicle looking as good as new. It’s important to remember that the lowest price often doesn’t yield the best results.
The estimate you receive from RF Collision will include all the parts and labor necessary to return your vehicle to like-new condition following an accident, so there’s no hidden or unexpected charges at checkout. We also will document and note any damage on your vehicle that’s unrelated to your accident and provide a separate quote, so you can decide if you would like to have those issues fixed at the same time.
4. Insurance Procedures and Practices Can Be Confusing
Insurance claims and policy language can be confusing. You may find yourself asking questions like “Do I have no-fault insurance?” or “What’s the difference between collision and comprehensive coverage?” It can be hard to figure out what is covered and what isn’t just from reading through the legal jargon in your insurance policy. Every policy and every accident is different, but there are a few key factors you should know.
Fault Vs. No Fault Insurance
All 50 U.S. states fall into one of two categories when it comes to automotive insurance: fault or no fault.
- Fault States: In states with at-fault insurance, compensation is paid out by the insurance of whoever was deemed responsible for the accident – the “at fault” driver. That means either your insurance or the other driver’s insurer will pay out for any damage done to your vehicle. This is the most common type of insurance system, used in more than half of states.
- No-Fault States: In a no-fault insurance state, you can only seek compensation for vehicle damage or lost wages from your own insurance, regardless of who is found to be at fault. The advantage to no-fault insurance is that reimbursement and repairs can be performed quickly, without the need to to go back and forth with the other driver’s insurance trying to prove who was responsible for the accident.
New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means you’ll only have to work with your own insurance when you’ve been involved in an accident.
Collision Coverage Vs. Comprehensive Coverage
Regardless if you have at-fault or no-fault insurance, your policy will have two types of coverage included: collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage is what pays for your vehicle’s repairs if it was damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object, such as a fence, house, or tree. Collision coverage will also cover your vehicle if it’s involved in a single-car rollover or has incurred damage from something on the roadway such as a pothole.
Comprehensive coverage covers damage that isn’t related to a collision, such as theft, natural disasters or weather, fire, animals, and more. If your vehicle’s paint gets scratched up from hail or a tree falling on it, that would be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
If you finance or lease your vehicle, you’re required to have collision and comprehensive coverage on it. It’s also important to note that collision and comprehensive coverage do not cover another person’s vehicle or medical bills if you’re at fault in an accident – that’s what your liability insurance is for. Even in no-fault states, liability insurance is required to cover property damage, serious injury to others, and accidents outside of your state.
At RF Collision, we’re experts at untangling and demystifying confusing insurance policies. Our team can tell you what is and isn’t covered by your insurance, if you have any deductibles due, and handle all the communication with your insurance provider for you.
5. Always Have Your Vehicle Repair By Professionals
Your vehicle is one of the largest investments you’re likely to make. You rely on it to get you to work, the grocery store, your kid’s school, and everywhere in-between. That’s why you should always ensure its being repaired by certified professionals when you bring it to a body shop following an accident.
When you’re choosing a body shop to repair your vehicle, always check that it’s an I-CAR Gold Class certified collision center. I-CAR Gold Class certification shows the body shop is committed to embracing industry-leading technology and investing in continuous collision repair training. If the body shop also has ASE-certified service technicians, even better.
RF Collision is proud to be an I-Car Gold Class certified body shop. We are also an active member of the New York State Automotive Collision Technicians Association and an associate member of the Greater Rochester Auto Body Craftsmen Guild, Inc. When you bring your vehicle to RF Collision after an accident, you can trust it’s in good hands.
6. Ask If The Shop Provides a Repair Warranty
As we’ve already mentioned, your vehicle is one of the largest investments you’ll make. Your vehicle plays a vital role in your day-to-day life, which is why you want it repaired as soon as possible. But don’t forget to ask the repair shop if they warranty their work. The last thing you want after you get your vehicle back is for the repaired part to fail, leaving you arguing with the repair shop trying to get it fixed.
RF Collision in Canandaigua stands behind the quality of our work. That’s why every repair we perform is backed by a written lifetime warranty, so you can have peace of mind knowing your vehicle’s repairs are covered. We also always use Original Equipment Manufacturer parts when possible while repairing your vehicle to ensure only the highest quality repair work.
7. There Are Several Steps to the Repair Process
While you may want your vehicle repaired as soon as possible, there are several steps to the repair process and it won’t be done overnight. Knowing what to expect after you drop your vehicle off though can make the wait less agonizing.
Typically, most body shops will follow this roadmap:
- Drop your vehicle off: Bring your vehicle to your body shop of choice, either by towing it or driving it right to the lot if possible.
- Get a rental car: If you need a rental vehicle while yours is being repaired, the shop will assist you in securing a loaner.
- Get an estimate: On-site claims adjusters will examine the damage and compile an initial estimate of how much it will cost to restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.
- Insurance Approval: After an estimate has been compiled, it will be sent to your insurance provider for approval. Once the estimate has been approved, work on your vehicle can begin.
- Disassembly: Certified technicians will disassemble the damaged parts of your vehicle as necessary and create a blueprint for the repairs.
- Order Parts: Once the disassembly is done, replacement parts will be ordered. At RF Collision, we use Original Equipment Manufacturer whenever possible to ensure the highest quality repairs.
- Repairs: The body shop team will begin repairing the structural and mechanical damage done to your vehicle. This can often start before the replacement parts have arrived.
- Painting: At RF Collision, we use a computerized paint-matching system to identify your vehicle’s exact shade and finish, creating a seamless coat of paint.
- Reassembly: Once the parts are all painted the correct shade, your vehicle is put back together.
- Detailing: A reputable body shop like RF Collision will detail your vehicle to ensure it’s returned to you looking as good as new.
- Final Inspection: The team closely examines the repair work to ensure the utmost quality.
- Delivery: Once your vehicle is all set, you’ll be contacted to come pick it up!
When you arrive to retrieve your vehicle from RF Collision, a member of the team will review all the repair work that was performed with you to ensure it’s up to your satisfaction. They’ll also go over your written lifetime warranty for you, so you can have peace of mind when you drive off the lot.
8. Never Drive A Car That Could Be Unsafe
Sometimes the damage from an accident may seem minor and you might think the vehicle is fine to keep driving while you wait to get it into a body shop. But vehicle damage isn’t always obvious to the untrained eye and things might be worse beneath the surface than they initially appeared. This damage could compromise the safety of you and your passengers if your vehicle was involved in another collision before being repaired.
What may seem like minor damage to the bumper could be hiding major structural damage that prevents your vehicle’s crumble zones from working properly, leaving you more at risk for major injury. Even small cracks in the windshield could cause the roof to collapse during a rollover accident. That’s why you should never drive a vehicle that has been in an accident until you can have a body shop check it and determine if it’s safe.
Let RF Collision Handle Your Body Shop Needs
As an I-CAR Gold Class certified facility, RF Collision is well equipped to handle your vehicle’s body repair needs. Our experienced team can answer any questions you have, work with your insurance for you, and will have your vehicle returned in like-new condition as soon as possible following an accident. Give us a call at (585) 728-4597 to get the process started or schedule an appointment online today.