After you have been involved in an accident, you are going to want to get your vehicle fixed up. There are specific steps you have to go through to get your vehicle fixed up after an accident.
Calling Your Insurance Company
The first thing you need to do is call your insurance company and let them know that you have been in an accident. If your vehicle was damaged to the point where you can't drive it, or don't feel safe driving it, your insurance company can also arrange for your vehicle to be towed to your home or to a local auto body shop for collision repair services.
Meet with An Adjustor
After you contact your insurance company and let them know about the accident, they will set up an appointment for one of their adjustors to come look at your vehicle. The adjustor will come out and look at your vehicle. You technically do not need to be present for this meeting if, for example, you had your vehicle towed to a local auto body shop.
The adjustor will look at your car and write down all the damage to your vehicle. They will take pictures of your vehicle and make written notes as well. Then they will sit down and review all of that information and determine the cost of the damages to your vehicle.
They should be able to let you know the extent of the visible damage and what they think it would cost to repair it. Then, they should be able to let you know if your vehicle is repairable or if it is totaled.
Working with the Body Shop
If your vehicle has been repaired, you then have to work with the body shop and your adjustor. The body shop is going to look over your vehicle and come up with their own detailed repair plan. They will share this repair plan with you and your insurance company. If the auto body repair plan costs more than the adjustor estimated, then the insurance company will have to reevaluate if your car is considered totaled with this new repair amount. If it is considered totaled, they will pay you for your vehicle or allow you to buy it back. If the vehicle is not totaled, then repair work can begin.
Once all the work is approved, then the auto body shop will start the work. They will source any parts they need to replace, and being the repair and often the painting process. Once all the visual damage is fixed, then the auto body shop will check for mechanical damage. Your insurance will pay for the repairs, outside of the deductible for your insurance coverage.
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