Recently in an Accident? - Your Choice & Your Rights

"THE REPAIR SHOP IS NOT ON OUR NETWORK SHOP LIST, SO WE CAN'T GUARANTEE REPAIRS."
 

First, they are not doing the repairs. We are, and our repairs come with a lifetime guarantee. How can they guarantee repairs when they don't do the actual repairs? We choose not to appear on every insurance company's "network list" because we put vehicle owners first.

Second, the Texas Department of Insurance states, "You have the right to choose the repair shop and replacement parts for your vehicle. An insurance company may not specify the brand, type, kind, age, vendor, supplier, or condition of parts or products used to repair your automobile."

 
"THE REPAIR SHOP CHARGES MORE THAN THE GOING RATE, SO YOU'LL NEED TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE."

We go over all costs with you. No work gets done without your approval. With a couple of phone calls to the insurance company, most customers collect the difference. We can help with the phone calls.

 "YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A RENTAL IF YOU USE THAT REPAIR SHOP."

You should not pay anything for a rental. The insurance company may tell you to pay for the rental and it'll reimburse you later. You do not need to pay for anything for later reimbursement. In fact, many insurance companies have direct bill agreements with rental companies.

 "WE CAN'T GET AN ADJUSTER OUT THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS USING YOUR REPAIR SHOP. IF YOU TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO OUR NETWORK SHOP, SOMEONE CAN START RIGHT AWAY."

The Texas Department of Insurance Bill of Rights states that you have the right to prompt processing and payment of claims after reporting the claim. Most car insurance policies include an appraisal clause. "If the insurance company fails to meet required claims processing and payment deadlines, you have the right to collect 18% annual interest and attorney's fees in addition to your claim amount."

"YOU’LL HAVE TO WAIT LONGER TO SETTLE CLAIMS IF YOU USE THE REPAIR SHOP."
 

Insurance companies may pay preferred providers quickly than those not on their list, but Texas has a deadline they must follow for all claims. From the Texas Department of Insurance website:

"Generally, within 15 calendar days, your insurance company must acknowledge receipt of your claim and request any additional information reasonably related to your claim. Within 15 business days after receipt of all requested information, the company must approve or deny your claim in writing. The law allows the insurance company to extend this deadline up to 45 days if it notifies you that more time is needed and tells you why. After notifying you that your claim is approved, your insurance company must pay the claim within 5 business days." Keep these tactics in mind so you can decide what's best for you and your vehicle. You have every right to decide which shop repairs your vehicle.

Insurance Recommendations & Claims
We Can Recommend Insurance Companies for You to Consider

We tend to recommend local companies because you benefit from meeting their staff in person. We don't recommend Internet policies because they're unreliable.
We can also help you with the claims since we have worked with many insurance companies. If you don't understand any part of the insurance company's procedures or have concerns, we can get the answers for you. You always come first.

DIRECT REPAIR PROGRAM (DRP) = HMO

Insurance companies prey on the consumer's lack of knowledge. Would you go to an HMO doctor, if you are not required to do so? Or, would you rather go to the doctor of your choice? As HMO doctors have the inherent bias to protect the financial interests of the insurance companies, so do the DRP (Direct Repair Program) shops. Unlike a DRP shop, our loyalty to you is unequivocal. Insurance companies do their best to convince you to go to one of their "HMO" shops. Why? It saves them money.

We tend to recommend local companies because you benefit from meeting their staff in person. We don't recommend Internet policies because they're unreliable.

We can also help you with the claims since we have worked with many insurance companies. If you don't understand any part of the insurance company's procedures or have concerns, we can get the answers for you. You always come first.

DIRECT REPAIR PROGRAM (DRP) = HMO

Insurance companies prey on the consumer's lack of knowledge. Would you go to an HMO doctor, if you are not required to do so? Or, would you rather go to the doctor of your choice? As HMO doctors have the inherent bias to protect the financial interests of the insurance companies, so do the DRP (Direct Repair Program) shops. Unlike a DRP shop, our loyalty to you is unequivocal. Insurance companies do their best to convince you to go to one of their "HMO" shops. Why? It saves them money.
 

How to Make Sure the Collision Repair Process Goes Smoothly

After an accident, you may not know what to do to get your car back on the road. There are insurance claims to file, police reports to obtain and you may be dealing with injuries that mean doctors or tests. Throughout all of this, you need to get the damage on your car repaired so you can manage all the other details of the accident. This may be the first time you have dealt with collision repair, so there are some things you need to know to make the process go smoothly.

Use a Skilled Appraiser - The insurance company will probably send their own appraiser to determine how much the damages will cost. A good appraiser should identify all damage done to your vehicle, even damage that may not be visible. If something is found during the repair, you want to be sure the appraiser is willing to convince the insurance company to pay for the additional repairs. Talk to them about their knowledge and experience when they come to appraise the damage. Be sure to ask about hidden damage and what the process is for those repairs.

You Can Choose the Repair Shop - Insurance companies often have relationships with certain collision centers and this is where they typically send one of their policyholders after a collision. You are not required to use a facility that is recommended by the insurance company and have the right to choose where your repairs are done. This is often in your best interest to ensure the repairs are high-quality.

Extensive Repairs - You may think the damage to your car is minor but when your car hits something, the impact affects the entire vehicle. Even a minor collision can damage the frame, wheels, interior or drivetrain. Choose a shop that will inspect the entire vehicle and repair damages that may not be visible.

Repairing Body Damage - Commercials for products on television that claim a body panel can be popped back into place using a special tool or household item are not factual. Although there are paintless dent repair techniques, they must be performed by trained technicians who use special tools to gently bend the metal back into shape.

Repairs Without Body Filler - Not so long ago, you could determine if a car had been in an accident by running a magnet over the surface. Sections with body filler meant the car was probably in a collision. That isn’t the case with today’s cars as they sometimes come from the factory with body filler in order to hide any imperfections in the metal. New paintless dent techniques allow body shops to make repairs without the need for body filler or sanding as well.

Warranty Work - Sometimes, insurance companies will tell you that if you go to a repair shop that is not recommended by them, the work will not be covered under warranty. However, warranties are provided by the collision center, not the insurance company. Choose a location that offers a written warranty and guarantees that you will be satisfied with the work.

Original Manufacturer vs. Aftermarket Parts - Original manufacturer parts (OEM) are often higher quality than aftermarket parts. They are parts that were originally made for your vehicle and are patented by the manufacturer. Aftermarket parts may be compatible, but they are not the same as OEM parts.

Do Your Research - You want to be sure your repairs are done in a shop with a good reputation. A good shop will put your needs first and use the highest quality materials. They also offer warranties and satisfaction guarantees. Research any shop you are considering by reading online reviews and talking to friends or relatives.

Is the Car Totaled? - A car is “totaled” by the insurance company when the cost of repairing it is more than the value of the car. An older car will meet the threshold for totaling quicker than a newer car. If your car is only a few years old, it will need to be significantly damaged in order for the insurance company to total it.

Repairs Can Make Cars as Good as New - In the past, a car that had been in a collision was never the same after a repair. With today’s new techniques, vehicles can be returned to their original condition after a collision as long as repairs are done correctly. Today’s repairs give your car the same sound structure, functionality and appearance as it had before the collision. If your vehicle has been in a collision, schedule an appointment with us today by completing the simple online form. We will get your car back to its original condition and offer a satisfaction guarantee on all work we do.