Getting into an accident can devastate you, and the last thing that you need is to run into problems when trying to get your vehicle fixed. Whether you are paying for the repairs yourself, or are getting them done through an insurance company, there are some things that you should know about auto repairs and having them done after an accident has occurred to make sure that you don’t get taken to the cleaners by the repair shop. Here are some tips that will help you get your car repaired for a fair price, and to get the job done right.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind here. First, immediately after the accident, if you are rushed off to the hospital in an ambulance, your car will likely be towed, unless it is driveable and you have had a friend come and pick it up. If it is towed, you will need to give the company that is storing the car your permission, as the registered owner, before they will release it to the insurance company, or the repair shop that the insurance company has picked. If you do not sign it out, then it will not go to a repair company but you will be responsible for the towing and storage fees.
First, when you make your choice of repair shops, remember that you’ll want a mechanic that knows motorcycles and works on them all the time. You might find a mechanic that works on cars normally, and says he knows motorcycles, but you want someone that really knows what they are doing or you may end up with repairs that weren’t done correctly, and you may end up with the bill yourself to fix the “repaired” bike, since the insurance company has already paid for the original mechanic to fix your motorcycle. Also, make sure your mechanic is ASE certified.
You may find that you have trouble collecting from the insurance company, getting them to pay for repairs or getting them to admit liability so that the repairs can be done. Sometimes insurance companies employ unethical tactics to keep from paying for an auto repair, which can include anything from requiring massive amounts of paperwork, refusing to admit they are liable for the repairs or simply delaying your claim for long periods of time in the hope that you will give up and pay for the repairs yourself instead of going to all the trouble.
This is where an attorney can help. A motorcycle insurance attorney can help you to avoid the nightmare of repair bills and insurance companies that refuse to pay or are stalling. Just a few things that a motorcycle accident attorney can do for you include proving you were not at fault in the accident to the other insurance company, getting them to fulfill their obligations to repair the car or pay for the insurance claim, speak for you to the insurance company and others who may be trying to take advantage of you, and in general be a solid advocate between you, the insurance company and repair shops.
