An auto body shop bases the cost of your repairs on two different things…parts and labor.

In the US, labor costs range from about $40-90 per hour, depending on your area of the country. Even within your town, you may find a range of labor costs. Finding an auto repair shop with lower labor costs is one way to save on the price of your repair, but it shouldn’t be the only think that you consider.

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With squealing brakes and the crunching sound of metal, your first reaction when you get into an accident is most likely to panic. After all, no one expects it to happen to them and when it does, it’s easy to get carried away.

However, panicking is not going to help anyone and you may actually cause damage. The best thing for you to do is to remain calm and know how to take control of the situation.

The most important thing to do first is to check to make sure that nobody is seriously injured. If the people in your car are fine, check with the other car. If possible, try to see that no one else gets hurt by placing flares or directing traffic around the accident until the police can arrive.

Then, you must call the police. This is important, even in a small accident where nobody is hurt. Filing a police report helps to protect your rights, whether you were at fault or not. If you do not file a police report at the scene of the crime, you may be surprised to learn that the other driver filed one later. This may mean that you didn’t have a chance to tell your side of the story.

While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, you may want to assess the damage to both cars. The best thing to do is to take pictures of the accident, showing damage to the cars and the positions of the vehicles. This will help the insurance company to determine who is at fault. Many people have a camera attached to their cell phone. This is ideal for taking pictures of a car accident. If not, you may want to carry a disposable camera just in case of an accident.

Exchange information with the other driver. Make sure you get a name, address, phone number, and insurance information. You should also take down the license plate number and other car information, such as the make, model and VIN. If the driver is not the insurance policyholder, make sure that you understand their relation.

When the police arrive, they will start to file a report. Make sure that you give them all the details truthfully, but don’t admit fault, especially if you were not at fault or if both parties are partially to blame.

Call your insurance company as soon as possible. If you can, it’s a great idea to do this at the scene of the accident, so that the police can talk to the company if you need them to. The police are often better at explaining the details in the way that the insurance company wants to hear.

If you follow all of these steps, you can be assured that the technicalities of your accident will go smoothly and you will not have as many problems getting your insurance company to pay the money that you deserve.

If you’ve only gotten into a small fender bender and not a serious car accident, you may be wondering whether it’s really necessary to call the insurance company or not. You may be worried that they will increase your premiums, even if it wasn’t your fault.

Whether you’re worried or not, you should always make a point of filing a report with the insurance company.

Here are some good reasons why:

1. You cannot be sure what the other person is going to do. Another person might act friendly at the scene of the accident and suggest that you settle things privately in order to keep the insurance premiums down. The person may seem trustworthy, but they may end up calling the insurance company anyway. This will make it look like your fault and will not work in your favor. The best thing to do is inform both parties’ insurance companies of the facts of the accident and let the insurance company determine fault.

2. You want to get the money you deserve. At the scene of the accident, you may not know how much repairs will cost. If you make an agreement with the other person, you cannot be sure that they will follow through on their promise. They may balk at the high cost or be unable to afford it. The insurance company will pay you the money that you are owed.

3. Damages are not always obvious. Things may look fine to the naked eye, but there could be internal damage to your car. Only a mechanic will be able to tell you this and give you an accurate
estimate of how much it will cost to fix your car.

4. You may be eligible for diminished value compensation. If your car has been in an accident, it will be worth less when you try to sell it, even if it looks like it’s brand new. Insurance companies
should pay you the cost of this diminished value, which could be thousands of dollars.

While most people will agree that the insurance companies should be called when there’s been an accident, you’ll occasionally meet someone that resists this idea. This is usually because they are at fault and are worried about what will happen to them. Don’t let this person bully you into not calling the insurance company, even if the person is offering you a cash settlement. It’s always in your best interest to follow the rules and do things the right way.

Shannon Tani
Researcher/Writer

With much of today’s society being sue-happy, it’s easy to see why you might think about getting a lawyer if you’ve been in an accident.

Before you call a lawyer, however, you may want to think if it’s really necessary.

If you’ve only been in a small accident, you can probably settle it without a lawyer. Simply file a police report and contact your insurance company and they will take care of everything that you need. This applies to most accidents where no one has been hurt.

Sometimes, though, contacting a lawyer really is the best move:

1. If it’s hard to determine who was at fault. In many accidents, it’s important to settle on who’s fault the accident was. This helps the insurance companies decide which company is responsible
for paying for the accident and whether or not your insurance premiums will increase. In some cases, it’s difficult to determine who caused the accident. An attorney may be able to settle the dispute.

2. If there are any injuries. Whether you are the person that was injured in the accident, or whether it was someone in the other vehicle, it’s usually wise to call a lawyer when there’s been an injury. There can be many costs associated with a car accident injury, including hospital fees, rehabilitation and the money from lost wages. A lawyer will help you to get all of the money that you deserve.

3. If the insurance company denies your claim. Insurance companies want to hold on to their money. They may use loopholes to deny your claim or try to offer you an amount that is lower than you deserve, hoping that you will settle for that rather than wait for more money.

It’s important that you get all of the money that you are owed and a lawyer can help you do that.

4. If you are being sued. Sometimes, a person that was friendly at the scene of the accident turns out to be not so friendly after the fact. People may lie or twist facts in order to get money. If the other person involved in the accident is suing you, it’s important that you get a lawyer that can protect your interests.

If you are worried about whether you need a lawyer after your car accident, it may be best to
simply contact a lawyer just to be on the safe side. You may not need their services, but it will help you to feel more secure.

Nobody wants to get in a car accident, but accidents happen every day and it can be a very trying experience for everyone involved.

Auto repair shops can fix a number of the mechanical or auto body problems you have with your car after an accident. Unfortunately, some problems require a bit more care in fixing.

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After you’ve had a car accident, you may feel stressed about what to do. You want to get all the money that the insurance company owes you, but it’s important for you to follow the right steps.

You’ll have to talk to the insurance company. Make a list of questions that you have before you call. If you don’t understand something, call back. Keep asking questions until you fully understand all of your rights and responsibilities.

In most cases, the insurance company will only pay for repairs that are done by certain mechanics. Your mechanic may not be one of the ones that you can see. However, if you trust your mechanic, you may want to take your car to that shop first to get a list of the things that you’ll need fixed. That way, you can be sure  that the insurance company-approved mechanic is not trying to cut corners.

Make sure that you understand the time limit to settle a claim from the insurance company. Most insurance companies require you to have repairs done within a certain time frame and they will not cover the costs if you exceed that period.

Don’t settle for something that you don’t want. A car mechanic may try to push you to use generic replacements, but if you want to use the brand associated with your car, insist that they use the manufacturer’s brand.

Keep all of your receipts so that you can prove how much you paid for repairs. These are an important part of your proof.

You may want to see how much the accident has diminished the value of your car even after repairs. Any car that has been in an accident is automatically worth less money than a car that is the same year, make, and model as a car that hasn’t been in an accident. You can try to get the insurance company to compensate you for the loss of value to your car.  If you were NOT at fault, you may be able to negotiate a claim for the diminished value.  Check with Advocate Auto Claims to see if you have a valid claim.

Finally, don’t take a check from the insurance company unless you believe it’s fair. Insurance companies are running a business and they will do their best to pay you as little as possible. They may even offer you a check that is not for the full amount, hoping that you will take it and settle. This is not in your best interest. Make sure that you get all of the money you deserve.