FAQ’S

Insurance – Accident Checklist

Choosing a quality repair shop is an important decision in assuring your satisfaction. At Coal Creek Collision Center, we work with insurance companies every day and would be happy to save you any undue aggravation and worry. Our employees are professionally trained craftsmen who will do a quality job of restoring your vehicle at a fair price. At Coal Creek Collision Center, we want you to feel safe as well as satisfied with the results.

Feel free to contact us at 303-666-4100 if you have questions, concerns or for more information.

Insurance Facts

• You are NOT required to get more than one estimate.
• You may choose your own auto body shop.
• You do not have to accept the insurance company’s appraisal of damage. Your policy should have an Appraisal Clause which you can check to resolve any conflicts.

Accidents can happen at any time and can be very stressful. Here are some things to remember if you are caught in this unfortunate situation. You might want to print the printer friendly view of this page and keep it in your vehicles.

Do the following after a major collision:

• Contact the Police immediately. Report the accident to the nearest police station even if damages are minimal and no passenger(s) is injured. This can protect you from a hit and run charge later on.
• Record information of the other driver’s vehicle (or if a multi-vehicle accident all of the drivers), injured person(s), and witness(es). The police will usually do this, but you should not rely on them. Get this information: name, address, phone number, ID or driver’s license number, birthday, vehicle make and model, license plate, vehicle identification number (17-digit number usually found on the front windshield or the door jam of the vehicle), location, as well as date and time of the accident.
• Make a claim with your insurance company.
• If injuries have occurred, consult a physician promptly. For insurance purposes, you must prove that you sought medical attention right away. It is for your protection since injuries do not always show up immediately.
• Read all papers carefully before you sign them.
• Make sure that you are not authorizing repairs by signing a towing release.
• Write down a complete description of the accident as soon as you can, and if possible, take pictures. Recording details of the accident while they are fresh in your mind can be of great assistance for insurance and legal purposes.
• Report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles within ten days if property damage exceeds $750 and/or injury or death results.
• Notify your insurance company, even if the damage is small and no one was injured.
• Follow your insurance company’s guidelines for reporting an accident.
• Make sure you have even the smallest damages repaired. If not, it will reduce the resale value of the vehicle.

What not to do after a major collision:

• Do not allow your car to be towed to a repair facility which you are not familiar with.
• Do not discuss the accident with anyone except a police officer or a verified representative of YOUR Insurance Company.
• Do not sign statements or claims presented to you by the other driver’s insurance company. If you are being pressured, you may wish to consult an attorney.
• Do not accept a check for the repair of your vehicle unless all damage repair is covered. You are responsible for having the vehicle repaired to your complete satisfaction.
• Do not seek the lowest estimate; it is wiser to seek the best quality work. Low estimates may be misleading and may result in incomplete repairs. There is a possibility that overlooked items such as alignment, hidden frame damage, etc., will cost you more money in the long run. – Original manufactured parts versus aftermarket parts will change the dollar amount of the estimate.

What are O.E.M. parts?

OEM (Original Equipment Manufactured) is a term used for parts made by the manufacturer of your automobile. For example, if you have a FORD, you would be purchasing O.E.M. parts directly from a FORD dealership.

What does “Aftermarket” mean?

Aftermarket is the term used to describe repair and replacement parts for your vehicle that are not produced by the manufacturer of your car. Many “Aftermarket” parts carry certification by CAPA which helps to ensure the integrity and quality of the part. Usually, these parts are less expensive and therefore some insurance policies authorize the use of aftermarket parts. These parts are sometimes referred to as “Quality Replaced Parts”.

What is a deductible?

A deductible is the portion of the repair bill which you are responsible for at the time you pick up your repaired vehicle. This is worked out between you and your insurance company when you apply for insurance and is then written into your insurance policy. The deductible amount usually helps determine the discount applied to your policy premium. Common deductible amounts vary from $100 to $1,000 for automobile policies.

You can change the deductible over time. As vehicles get older many folks go to a higher deductible, however, we are not suggesting you do this. If you have financed a vehicle the minimum deductible is frequently set by the financing organization.

When am I responsible for paying my deductible?

When am I responsible for paying my deductible? When your vehicle repairs are complete, the insurance company pays us for the work performed minus your deductible. The deductible dollar amount is due from you to the auto body shop when the car is picked up or delivered.