Frequently Asked Questions

1. When I reported my accident, the insurance company told me i have to get an estimate from their “preferred shop”. Do I have to? I’d rather come to you first.

Answer: NO! In fact, you should only have your car seen at the body shop of your choice.

The reason some of the “biggest” insurance companies try to get you to go to a certain place is because statistically speaking, a percentage of people involved in an accident as a 3rd party, will not have the automobile repaired. Thus, why write a proper estimate, when the automobile isn’t going to be fixed anyway?

So, have the car seen at the shop!

Question: What if the claims representative tells me it will be seen faster, and that I will be delaying the process if I have it seen at the shop?

Answer: It is ILLEGAL for an insurance company to force you to go to any specific location for estimates or repairs. Remember! you’re paying them every month.

When Looking for a Facility…

Know it is not in your best interests to seek or consider an estimate or
damage report from a repair facility you believe will not meet your
expectations.  As a consumer, you have a financial interest to protect.  The
ultimate choice is yours.

With that said…West Islip Collision is a state-of-the-art repair facility. Feel free to ask us for a tour so we can show you the latest equipment used in the industry.

Price Isn’t Everything or “cheap can be expensive”

Sometimes consumers make the mistake of believing one collision repair
facility is like any other.  They believe price should be the prime
consideration.  However, nothing could be further from the truth,  and if you
select the estimate that was cheapest, it can often turn out to be a mistake.

The Damage Report

West Islip Collision’s written damage report is a signal  we hold to high standards.  All facilities do not write damage reports- many of them write estimates- and there is an important difference between the two.

Estimates do not contain the detail of a damage report, which is completed
during careful examination of your vehicle. This examination may require
putting your vehicle on a lift or partial disassembly.  In any case, an
itemized, carefully rendered damage report – the blueprint  for repairing
your vehicle-can only be created with an investment  of time and effort.

If you are involved in an accident and didn’t sustain any bodily harm,keeping the following things in your car can keep you from getting a ticket and help you be prepared!

What to Keep in Your Car

• Vehicle Registration. Like proof of insurance, registrations can be processed and reviewed electronically. But, just like your proof of insurance, it is best to keep the physical copy of the registration in your vehicle at all times. Again, rules governing the proof of vehicle registration vary by state, so don’t take the risk of being unprepared. Additionally, make sure that your vehicle is up-to-date on its registration. You don’t want to unknowingly be cited for an unregistered vehicle in addition to being involved in an accident.

• Proof of Insurance. The best way to satisfy the proof of insurance requirement is by keeping your insurance card in the vehicle. While many states have electronic reporting rules that can allow motorists to prove that they have sufficient liability coverage via electronic means, keep a physical car insurance card in the vehicle at all times as a backup. Additionally, DMV.org notes, drivers can face legal penalties for not being able to prove that they are covered. These penalties vary by state, the website says, but they can consist of anything from a fine to actual jail time, depending on applicable laws and the circumstances in which they are caught without a policy. REMEMBER: You can face legal penalties for not being able to prove that your vehicle is insured. Penalties vary by state, but can consist of anything from a fine to actual jail time.

• Dedicated Accident Information Kit. It’s extremely helpful to have a dedicated kit that will allow you to move forward if you have an accident. Having pen and paper handy in the aftermath of an accident will allow drivers to note down critical information about the other driver, including license plate and driver’s license number, make and model of the other car, and auto insurance company and policy numbers.

Such documentation, along with photos and other detailed descriptions of the accident and resultant damages, can help ensure that car accident victims have to jump through as few hoops as possible in order to either minimize their financial liabilities or maximize their ability to collect what they may be owed after such a crash, adds.

According to the website, it’s also very important for a motorist not to admit fault at the scene of an accident, while remaining as polite and honest with the other driver as possible. They should also be on the lookout, Edmunds.com says, for the other driver changing his or her account of what happened in an accident after the fact, or claiming property damage or physical injury that was not apparent at the time. This is another of the headaches involved with auto accidents that having proper documentation, government-issued and otherwise, can help avoid.

In general, Edmunds.com says that information is the accident victim’s friend. “Make sure that your company has your version of what happened and check your policy – if the damages paid out by your insurance company are below a certain amount, the accident may not be considered chargeable. And you will avoid the penalty of a premium hike,” the website advises.

Thanks to “Wired How-to Wiki”

It wasn’t your fault. Or maybe it was. After a car accident, it doesn’t matter – you just need a competent body shop to put the pieces back together again. Body work is part art, part science. A good shop can restore the appearance of your car, but even more importantly, it can spot and fix problems under the skin that affect performance and safety.

Fortunately, Bay Area drivers have a lot of good choices. Bay Area Consumers’ Checkbook evaluated 196 local shops, and 56 of them were rated “superior” overall by more than 90 percent of their surveyed customers. On the other hand, 22 got such favorable ratings from fewer than 65 percent of their surveyed customers. Not doing the work right and delays were the most frequent customer gripes.

If insurance covers a repair, price might not matter much to you. But if you’re paying out of pocket, take note: Checkbook researchers got quotes on specific jobs and found big differences. For example, to replace the trunk lid on a 2005 Honda Civic, prices ranged from $687 to $1,477 – a $790 difference. Many of the shops rated best for quality were also among the least expensive on the jobs Checkbook priced.

Comparing prices isn’t always easy when it comes to body work. In most cases, a shop must see a car to make a good repair estimate. But where a specific part has to be replaced – if your car needs a new bumper, for example – you can get an estimate from most shops by phone.

Whenever you might need a body shop, here’s some advice from Checkbook:

– Choose a shop that does a good job of explaining to you what work needs to be done and why. An articulate representative at the body shop will be a good advocate when dealing with an insurance company.

– If there is any chance of serious damage, have the insurer send its estimator to the shop you choose. You’ll get a better evaluation of the damage than you can at a drive-in appraisal center.

– Used parts and “aftermarket” parts – parts made by independent parts manufacturers rather than the original car manufacturer – often cost less and may be perfectly acceptable. Insist that the shop and the insurance company indicate in writing for each part whether it is a used or aftermarket part. If a shop suggests aftermarket parts, say you want parts that are certified by the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA).

– Make a thorough inspection of finished work before leaving the shop. There is a lot you can judge for yourself. Look and feel whether repaired surfaces are smooth and paint has the proper gloss and color.

– After a major repair, consider taking the vehicle to another shop to confirm mechanical and structural work has been done right.

-Courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle

Long Island Auto Body Repairmen’s Assn., Inc

Four Basic Consumer Rights

“Consumers need to know their rights, and know that the Insurance Department Stands ready to protect them,” Superintendent of Insurance Eric R. Dinallo said. “If your insurer tells you that you need to get your car inspected or repaired at a particular place, call the Insurance Department at 1-800-342-3736. If, unfortunately, you are in an accident and need to have your car repaired, call the department to find out your rights, or visit our website.”

Dinallo said there are some basic rights of which consumers should be aware:

1. While an insurance company may discuss the benefits of its direct repair program, it cannot make you choose its auto repair shop. That choice is yours.
2. Except for window and glass repair, an insurance company cannot recommend a particular shop unless you ask for a recommendation.
3. An insurance company cannot tell you to go to its shop to get your damaged car inspected. The insurer must meet you at some place and time reasonably convenient to you.
4. An insurance company cannot tell you that you have to repair your vehicle in order to get paid. If you have damage, the insurer must pay the cost of repairing that damage, whether or not you choose to repair the vehicle.

Consumers with insurance-related complaints or questions should call the Insurance Department toll free at 1-800-342-3736 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit the Department’s website at www.ins.state.ny.us. In addition, information about auto insurance for consumers- including publications such as the Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance and the Auto Complaint Ranking – is available free at the website or via toll-free number.

-Courtesy Long Island Auto Body Repairman’s Assn.