Getting your car repaired after an accident?

Many people have questions about getting their car or truck fixed after they have been in a car accident. This post will attempt to answer some questions about the property damage claim you might have after a car crash.

Will my car be fixed or replaced?

That depends on how much damage has been done to your vehicle. Most insurance companies have a general formula to determine if they will fix a car or deem it a total loss. For example, one insurance company might decide that a vehicle will not be repaired if the value of the repairs exceed 80% of the value of the vehicle. Typically, the value of the vehicle is determined by comparable sales of similar vehicles. This includes options and the mileage on the vehicle. Under Utah law, the insurance company has the choice of whether to ‘total’ a vehicle or to repair it. Sometimes, you can influence this decision. I’ve been involved in some cases where we have influenced the insurance company to either total or repair a vehicle, depending on my client’s wishes.

Should my insurance company or the insurance company of the other driver fix my car?

The answer is that it depends on the circumstances. If the other driver caused the car accident and is at-fault, you do have the option to have the other insurance company fix your vehicle. If you have ‘full coverage’ or property damage coverage under your own policy, you do have the option to have your own insurance company fix your car.

When deciding between the two insurance companies, you should consider factors such as your deductible and the reputation of the insurance company. Typically you will have to cover or pay for the deductible if you fix your car through your own insurance. If the other party is at-fault, you will usually get this deductible money back, but sometimes it can weeks or months. In fact, I’ve had to fight with insurance companies many times to return my client’s deductibles. The deductible amount is set by your insurance contract, but it is usually something like $250, $500, or $1000.

The other factor is will you be satisfied with the repairs and the process. Usually, your own insurance company will be more ‘customer-service’ friendly, since you are their client, but not always. Having dealt with over a couple thousand cases, I can tell you which insurance companies offer better customer service. Please contact me about your particular case.