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.