Call Us: Where To Repair My Car After An Accident
After an accident, you may not know where to turn to or who to speak to. The steps you take after an accident are very critical when determining your rights and whether you could recover compensation for your injuries. Making just one wrong move, such as giving a statement to an insurance company, could lead to losing your rights to file a lawsuit and recover compensation.
Fortunately, our Los Angeles car accident attorneys can help you every step of the way. Your insurance company may not have your best interests at heart. That is why having a top-rated attorney will help ease the process and make you feel comfortable during the claims or lawsuit process.
Could I recover compensation for my vehicle damage in California?
In California, you have the right to recover personal injury compensation, and property damage compensation from a lawsuit or insurance claim. Property damage includes damage done to the vehicle during the time of the accident.
A property damage claim through an insurance company will require estimates and an auto repair shop. This process could seem very frustrating, especially to someone who has been involved in an accident. Our lawyers will help our clients throughout the process.
Who do I file a property damage claim against in Los Angeles?
If you have been involved in a car accident, and the accident was caused by another party, then you should file a claim with the other party’s insurance company. You could recover property damage through their insurance. But, if their insurance does not have enough coverage, you could then recover from your own car insurance company. For more information, and to see the other parties’ insurance company policies, we recommend signing up for a one-on-one case evaluation with our attorneys to determine the best course of action.
Should I repair my vehicle before filing a claim?
We recommend that you speak to our car accident attorneys before getting your vehicle repaired. Instead, you could choose to rent a vehicle to get to school or work. Until our attorneys have spoken with you and discussed your case, we recommend that you refrain from getting your vehicle repaired, simply because insurance companies may want to appraise the vehicle or take photos of the vehicle for a more in-depth determination of repair costs.
What rights do I have for my car repair after a car accident?
Under the California Auto Body Repair Consumer Bill Of Rights, a consumer, also known as the vehicle owner, has the right to choose their vehicle repair shop after they have been involved in a car accident. This means an insurance company cannot force you to take your vehicle to a specific shop.
What compensation could I recover for my car after an accident?
The compensation you could recover after a car accident depends on the circumstances of the accident. But, generally, below are some examples of the different types of compensation you could recover:
- compensation for towing your vehicle
- compensation for storing your vehicle
- compensation for a rental vehicle
- compensation for your vehicle repairs
Could I get a car repair estimate from any auto body shop?
Under California law, you have the right to get an estimate for all of the repairs from any auto body shop of your choosing when filing an insurance claim. An insurance company could not choose the auto body shop for you. You also have the right to request an estimate from an auto body shop.
What should I look for in an auto body shop?
There are specific things to look out for to make sure that you take your vehicle to a qualified auto body shop. Our attorneys will work with you to make sure that you get your vehicle repaired with the highest quality of service and parts. When looking at auto repair shops, you should consider:
- the auto shop reviews within the community
- the auto shop specials or programs that they have to offer to their customers
- the auto shop experience and number of years serving the community
- the auto shop location
You should not take your vehicle to just any car repair shop, instead, you should do your research. We always help our clients get top-quality care from auto repair shops and guide them through the process.
Should I choose an auto body shop from the insurance company’s list?
You are not required to choose an auto body shop from the insurance company’s list of approved vendors and shops. But, the process will be much easier if you were to choose from one of the approved shops. For example, if you were to choose an auto body repair shop that is not on the list, you may have to file extensive paperwork to have your specific auto body shop approved.
What should I do if my car has been totaled after a car accident in Los Angeles?
Sometimes, vehicle damage is severe, and the cost of repair will be more than the actual cost of replacing the vehicle. In this case, the car may be considered totaled. Your insurance company may then want to declare your car totaled rather than having you repair your vehicle.
However, the value of the vehicle is determined by looking at the year and condition of the vehicle exactly before the accident. The insurance company will not compare your vehicle to a brand-new one.
If your vehicle is declared totaled by the insurance company, your insurance company will then be able to pay the fair market value for the vehicle, not the repair costs. In that case, you will be required to turn in your totaled vehicle in exchange for the compensation.
Could I get my car appraised elsewhere?
An insurance company will send their appraiser to determine the vehicle damage. If you are not satisfied with the appraiser’s estimate of damages, you have the right under California law to request another appraiser yourself with an independent party. For more information, give us a call today to discuss your specific case.
Could I still get my vehicle repaired if I have been involved in a hit-and-run accident?
If you’re involved in a hit-and-run accident, and the other drivers sped away after an accident, you could still recover compensation for property damage to your vehicle. You would have to file a claim through your own insurance company. Usually, insurance policies cover hit-and-run accident property damage.
What should I do if I have been involved in a car accident in Los Angeles?
Our Los Angeles car accident attorneys offer free case evaluations to review all the specifics of your case and see what steps we can take to make sure that you get compensated for your car repairs.
We know how difficult it can be to experience a car accident, especially if you do not know the steps you need to take for your car repair. You have various types of rights under California law when it comes to repairing your car. Find out what exactly you could qualify for and recover from a one-on-one case evaluation with our attorneys at Megeredchian Law.