tips on collision repair?

G

gnahc79

New member
I was involved in an accident about a week ago and I'm going to get my car repaired this week. I was going ~35mph when it all happened, a 4 car chain reaction (I was the last one) when the first car stopped of all sudden on the highway. I don't need any advice/speculation on who's at fault etc, just some tips when I got to the repair shop.

Damage:

- hood is crunched, needs replacing

- bumper & headlights are crunchy too, replace

- radiator is dinged in at an angle. It was leaking after the accident, but I could still drive my car to the shoulder and onto a flatbed

- metal 'crunch zones' or whatever they are behind the headlights are crunched.

- amazingly the side panels are perfectly fine. The airbags did NOT deploy either, which was good.



The car in front of me was a 2003 Accord. The adjuster is supposed to give me an estimate by tomorrow morning. Hopefully it'll cover everything.
 
make sure you're there with the adjuster when he does the estimate. they are usually pretty good, but you can point out things he may miss. if you do miss anything though, your body shop will just add it to the estimate they give and work it out with your insurance company.



in california, I belive you're allowed to chose your own repair shop - at least I was. If you do get to chose go to some place that will fight to use OEM parts instead of refurb/generic parts. Sorry, I don't know any repair shops in the bay area for you.



final thing, just let the insurance comapny pay the body shop directly. It's a lot easier then trying to have the insurance company pay you and then you pay the insurance company. Plus, this gives you better protection in case there is anything wrong with the repairs. Also, pick up the car during the day, take your time, and check the details like where they blend the paint - you can always go back and a good shop will take care of the problems, but if you catch any problems during the inspection it's easier to get them taken care of.



From the damage you stated, I imagine your car will be in the shop for at least a two weeks since most places won't order parts until they have your car. when you pick up the car,
 
cool, thanks for the tips. Insurance is mailing me a check today with the body shop on the check as well. The adjuster gave an estimate of over $6,000 (repair shops in Cali normally charge ~$70/hr for labor). I think it should be enough.



I get to drive a loaner car the shop gave me, though. Wohoo light brown '86 Legend! :)
 
I took my damaged vehicle to a body shop the insurance co. has a "partnership" with for collision damage. What a scam!!!!! They were more than double than any of the other three shops I had taken my vehicle to for an est. While they are a very good shop, I doubt it costs them $125 to R&R the antenna on the fender. It pissed me off so bad I callled the insurance co. to complain of an inflated est. and they told me they called the shop to negotiate a better price and somehow it went down $800. So they gave me the check and I took the vehicle to another reputable shop and had them do the repairs for alot less and pocketed the rest.



I hate insurance companies! And body shops who 1st ask if I'm paying or is my ins. co.
 
There's no partnership between the shop and my insurance company. I got the shop's estimate today, $10,000. The adjuster's initial estimate is $6,000, so they're getting the additional money from the insurance company. The additional $4K is for internal stuff, so it makes sense: A/C, alternator, wiring, engine mount brackets, etc.



The estimate lists a few replacement parts as non-OEM: A/C condenser, front bumper cover, and radiator. The shop says the adjuster has to list a few non-OEM parts for cars that are X+ yrs. old. Is this true?

However, the shop is going to use all new parts anyways and just eat the diff in $$ since the repair bill is so chunky. The guys seem honest to me and their primary work is focused on Acuras and Hondas. Heck the shop name is Acura-Honda Connection :).
 
I don't think there is a rule that cars x years old need non-oem parts. it's probably just your insurance company policy.



if the body shop is willing to use the oem parts all the better.
 
I'd be real careful about price shopping body shops. More often than not, lowest estimate = shoddy work. My brother's hail damage truck received about $6000 in damage, he took the check, found a shop that would do the work for $3000. Turned out horrible, even after the third respray. Now the lowest estimate to completely strip his truck and respray it, replace all his trim and weather stripping and refinish all 4 wheels (they are caked in overspray) is $7700. And he has to do it since it's a lease.
 
ghlavaty said:
I hate insurance companies! And body shops who 1st ask if I'm paying or is my ins. co.
Click to expand...



Every body shop I've ever seen has asked that question, for a few reasons:



1. They price differently when charging a customer.



2. They refurbish and re-use parts that they would usually replace more or less needlessly to save you money.



3. They want to know how big a headache its going to be for them to get paid



4. They just have to know how the estimate will work, the billing etc.



Doctors ask the same question, its just like asking cash or credit card...
 
sooooooo, I got the CHP report today:



driver #2 was at fault (unsafe speed for conditions, inattention for looking to her right at the SJPD LEOs). Driver #1 was already stopped. Driver #3 and I were "associated factors" for unsafe speed for conditions.



yay no points . boo that I am still responsible for my own damage ...and maybe for driver #3's crunchy rear bumper, not sure yet.



Insurance calmed some of my worries, saying they would cover the additional $4K in repairs on top of the $6K from the initial estimate. I'm not counting on it until I see the damn check, though.
 
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