Collision Repair Tips After an Accident

An auto collision is a terrible experience, especially if someone gets hurt. And there is so much to deal with. From personal safety issues to towing and collision repair. This article is a great primer for any driver who wants to be better prepared in the event of a collision.

Personal Safety

First, make sure that everyone involved is safe and is not in harm’s way. Then assess. There could be bodily injuries that may not be noticeable at first – especially since adrenaline is high. Regain composure and make certain that you and others are not visibly injured. It is important to visit a doctor as quickly as possible after a collision occurs, even if you don’t think you are hurt. After you know everyone is okay, the next step is to get help.

Contact Authorities

Once everyone is safe, call the authorities. Always do this. Sometimes other parties will try and discourage you from calling. Be firm, and call. Regardless of the situation, you need a third party authority figure to collect the facts. The claims process will be much easier if you have a police report. Your insurance company will also have an easier time processing your collision repair if you have a police report.

Collision Repair

The first step you need to take in getting your car repaired is to assess the damage and determine if professional collision repair is necessary. You need to do this at the scene of the accident and take plenty of pictures. Take as many photos from as many angles as you can, but do so safely and out of traffic. Many insurance companies have a mobile app to take pictures and expedite the collision repair process.

Try to keep calm during this process, even if you believe the damage was caused by the other party. Try and view the situation as objectively as possible, which will help you gather all the information that will help you in the next steps.

Quality Assured may be able to provide you with a free towing service if your car is not drivable.

Handle Insurance

The second step is to get all of your driving credentials and swap them with the other party involved in the accident. At this stage, the authorities are likely beginning to arrive at the scene, and they will likely want your information as well.

You may be shaken up or even angry, but you should always try and be respectful and polite with law enforcement. They are on the scene to report the objective facts of the accident including any witness accounts and the accounts of both drivers. Regardless of what happens, be polite, and do not explicitly state fault. It is up to a third party to determine fault.

Your insurance company needs to be the next to know about the accident so you can discuss collision repair. Your insurance should be used to cover the costs of the repair if you were at fault, and you will pay more in the future as a result of this.

If the fault lies with the other driver, their insurance company will be the one to cover the costs of repair. This process takes time and can cause some headaches if the insurance company is resistant. Often people will pay the cost of repairs out of pocket and then wait to be reimbursed, or work with their auto repair shop to take payment directly from an insurance company. Quality Assured Collision Center is an expert in this process and we will make it a worry-free for you as possible.

If the cost of required repairs is higher than the value of the car, it is categorized as totaled. If this is the case, the insurance company will pay the value of your car instead of paying for repairs. This can be unexpected if the car is worth less than it looks, or the damages are more severe than they appear on the surface.

Quality Assured Collision Center

Quality Assured Collision Center is one of Yelp’s highest rated auto body shops in the Long Beach area. To-date we have over 200 honest reviews from real customers. Many of our reviews offer real pictures from real customers. These people were not just satisfied, they were so happy they wanted others to see for themselves. You can check out our reviews for yourself here.