HELPFUL HINTS

1. Stay calm and do not leave the scene.
2. Call law enforcement authorities immediately.
3. Do not pay the other party and do not discuss the accident with anyone except the police and your insurance company.
4. Write down the names and addresses of the involved parties and witnesses.
5. Contact the North or South store to set up an appointment to get your vehicle repaired or have your vehicle towed to either store.

There is no state law requiring you to obtain more than one insurance estimate. In fact, most insurance companies will work with a single estimate from a reputable body shop. We recommend that you choose a body shop you are comfortable with and allow them to work directly with your insurance company to see that your vehicle is repaired properly and returned to you as soon as possible.

Hidden damage is very common in collision repair due to the complexity of today’s vehicles. The initial repair estimate is just that, an estimate. All insurance companies understand this and expect supplemental costs on significant repairs. In most situations the only portion of the repair bill you would pay would be any applicable deductible. Any additional repair costs will be paid by the insurance company as it is their responsibility to return your vehicle to pre-loss condition.

The choice of repair facility is 100% yours. Although an insurance company may suggest shops on their “list” or who they prefer to work with, anti-steering laws prevent an insurer from mandating the use of a particular body shop for them to pay for the repair. We do participate in a number of insurance company direct repair programs which streamline the repair process, however the choice of repair shop us ultimately yours.

Many dealership body shops do fine quality work, however, independent body shops still repair the majority of collision damaged vehicles. There are laws in place to prevent auto manufacturers from voiding warranties due to repairs done by shops other than dealers of those product lines. By not selling cars or changing oil, our full focus is on collision repair and we feel the difference shows in our customer service and finished product.