Practice Areas

Latest Blog

Library

Level the playing field with the insurance company by reading these tips on settling a property damage claim offered by an experienced auto accident attorney.

1. If you choose to have your own insurance company handle the property damage claim, you can only receive a rental car for the amount permitted in your insurance contract. If your contract allows for 20 days of rental car coverage and it takes 30 days to repair the car, you will be responsible for the extra 10 days in rental fees.

2. What can I do when the insurance company wants to repair my vehicle with used parts? Since your car was not new at the time of the accident, the insurance company has a right to repair the vehicle with used parts. However, the used parts must be comparable in quality and age. Even though the part is used, the repair shop will use a part from the same manufacturer, same year and of the same quality as the original part. Used parts come from a nationally based locating system and can arrive in 1-2 business days. Whereas, new parts come from the manufacturer or dealerships and typically take weeks before delivery.

3. Many times throughout the repair process, the body shop will discover additional damage that was not initially approved by the insurance company. When this happens the body shop will document the additional damage by taking photographs or asking the insurance adjuster to com to the body shop and inspect the damage. Unless the insurance company can prove that the additional damage is not accident related, they will be obligated to repair it. This will be handled by the body shop repairing your car.

4. If you are unhappy with the repair work done on the vehicle, it is best to return to the original body shop and explain why you are unhappy. Most body shops will do everything in their power to make the customer happy. If the body shop refuses to address your concerns, take the vehicle to other local body shops and have them document what should have been done by the shop, but was not. You can then provide the insurance company with this information.

These tips, along with others offered on www.mikeschaferlaw.com, will help the reader in securing a fair settlement for their property damage claim.

Ask Mike a Question