Whenever we find ourselves involved in a car accident, especially our first one, it is perfectly normal to feel stressed, worried, and confused. The almost immediate set of questions we’ll be asked by our insurance company, the other driver, and their own insurance company might seem pretty tough, and we could end up taking the wrong decision as a result of the pressure. In order to avoid this from happening to you, we have gathered four common myths and misconceptions about the collision repair process. This way, you will be more prepared in case you ever get involved in a car accident.
To begin with, something you need to remember is that you can choose the body shop you prefer to repair your vehicle. Some insurance companies tend to work deals with certain body shops, either because they have a partnership, or because these shops might offer them special discounts or lower rates. However, keep in mind that you have the legal right to choose the shop of your preference and your insurance company can’t refuse to cover the expenses.
Another important aspect to bear in mind when we are involved in a car accident is that having a dealership repair the damages of your vehicles is a must. A common misconception when it comes to collision repair jobs is that only the dealership that sells the same make of our vehicle can repair it, as they are the only ones with the original parts that might be needed. Nevertheless, non-dealership body shops can order the same parts and take care of the repairs. Besides, there are many body shops that have the same kind of training, equipment, and experience required to repair your car without a problem.
Many people tend to believe that a damaged frame cannot be repaired, which is another misconception related to collision repair jobs. This is simply not true, and damaged frames can indeed be repaired as long as they are not structurally damaged. In order to make sure this is not the case, the best thing to do is to have the frame of our body carefully inspected by a professional. This will help us determine the real damage, and our body shop will be able to properly repair it.
Last but not least, it is very common for drivers and policyholders that their insurance policy will cover all the collision repair expenses that result from a car accident. However, we must have a clear understanding of what our policy does and doesn’t cover. This is why we need to read our coverage policy and go over any possible exception or limitation. If we have a liability-only policy and we cause an accident, our insurance company would cover the damages of the other person’s car. A collision coverage policy would cover the repairs that were caused in the accident but nothing prior to it.