BLOG

Do I Have The Right To Take My Car To The Auto Body Shop That I Choose Or To
The Preferred Shop Of My Insurance Company? In case you are involved in a fender
bender, there is a high probability that your insurance company will ask you to drop
your car at a specific
Do I Have The Right To Take My Car To The Auto Body
Shop That I Choose Or To The Preferred Shop Of My
Insurance Company?
In case you are involved in a fender bender, there is a high probability that your
insurance company will ask you to drop your car at a specific Auto Body Shop. You
should know that you have the right to go to the collision center of your choice to
perform the necessary repairs. There is no law that requires you to follow the orders of
your insurance company to go or not go to a specific Auto Body Shop.
Every insurance company have contracts with various collision centers in most cities,
the industry term for these contracts is DRP (Direct Repair Program). The truth is that
this program cost less and saves the insurance company some expenses, on the other
hand it is not always beneficial to the customer. So basically, for the extra referrals,
the Auto body shop is required under the contract signed to give the insurance
company a break on parts prices and labor rates. While the repairs may look
reasonable for the insurance company’s appraiser, there is no guarantee that you will
be completely happy with quality of the repairs.
According to the statistics, 70% of the auto claims that insurance companies deal with
are handled by the DRP shops, in fact insurance companies would like for all their
claims to go to their contracted auto body shops. To stop you from going to the repair
shop of your choice, the insurance company will warn you that they are not going to
warranty the repairs, so basically you are on your own in assuming the responsibility
for the work performed on your car. Another scare tactic used by the insurance
company is to warn the policy holder that the process will take longer if you go to an
out of network Auto Body Shop.
The truth of the matter is that every respectable collision center provides warranties
on their work. Patriots Auto Body offers a Lifetime Warranty on paint and body
work. Reputable Auto body shops are used to handling insurance claims, and the
process is not long, like most insurance companies claim, in fact it is usually quick
and hassle-free.
If you are looking for an auto body repair shop, keep in mind that you have the right
to choose your own collision shop. If the insurance company sends you to their
recommended shop and their work is not up to par, you have two choices, you will
either have to pay another Auto Body Shop to fix your car again or just live with it.
Be Smart in your decision making, do your homework and make sure you obtain
estimates from several Auto Body Shops. Patriots Auto Body provides a Free
Estimate to give you an idea of how much the repairs will cost you.
Drivers residing in Lowell and surrounding cities are strongly encouraged to contact
Patriots Auto Body and Collision Center. The friendly staff will be more than happy
to answer all your questions or concerns and get you back on the road in no time.
I was involved in a car accident! What should I do?
Have you ever been part of a minor fender bender, like a car collision? If your answer
is yes, then you are not the only one. It’s a fact that we can’t deny, auto collisions
come with the driving package and millions of different types of car accidents are
claimed every year. From hit and runs, minor fender benders to major car crashes.
These accidents can cause emotional and physical damages, which raises the question
we titled our article with, what to do after the accident?
Auto collisions can happen anytime and anywhere, day or night, big intersection in a
crowded city or small driveway in the countryside. If you are involved in a collision,
remain calm and have the presence of mind.
Here are the instructions you should follow if you are involved in a car accident:
Move your car to a safe place
Should I move my car? This is a very popular question that many drivers ask after
getting into a car accident. If a moving vehicle hits your car on a major road, it is
better to move your car out of the way of incoming traffic for safety measures. After
that, the next thing to do is to turn your emergency lights on. This will guarantee that
your car is visible to other drivers driving by. Make sure everyone in the car is safe
and sound, including yourself. If someone is injured inside, Call 911 or ask someone
else to do so for you.
Exchange information
You must exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver involved
in the car accident. This information is very critical when filing a claim with your
insurance company. When exchanging information, make sure you are not standing
on the side of the car with incoming traffic for safety reasons. The following
information should be exchanged:
Full name
Address
Phone number
Driver’s license number
License plate number
Vehicle make, model, and color
Insurance company policy number
Names and phone numbers of witnesses
It is always a good idea to document the scene of the accident by taking pictures of
the damaged cars from different angles. When the police officer arrives to the scene of
the accident, ask for their name, badge number, and phone number. You may also
want to ask the officer when and where you can receive a copy of the accident report.
This may take a couple of days to get, but it is important to have.
Call your insurance company
It is important to call your car insurance provider as soon as you have the chance to
start the process of filing a claim. Your agent will ask you to supply specific
information related to the accident, so it is wise to call while you are still at the scene
of the accident. Your insurance agent should inform you on your policy and the
details of your coverage, such as your deductible and rental car coverage.
Locate a repair shop
Although your insurance company may have a list of recommended auto body shops
for you, it is ultimately up to you to choose the right collision repair shop for you. The
insurance company will issue a check directly to you to pay for the repair unless you
sign a direction to pay form for shop then the insurance company will pay the shop
directly. Finding a reputable collision repair shop that you can trust with your car can
make the process of getting you back on the road seamless.
Patriots Auto Body and Collision Center is the best auto repair shop north of Boston,
conveniently located in the heart of Lowell, and is specialized in the restoration of all
types of vehicles. If you are involved in a car accident, make sure you call (617) 285-
2962. For more information go to
www.patriotsautobody.com
The Unpredicted Complications
Caused by Rear-End Collisions
The Unpredicted Complications Caused by Rear-End Collisions Have you ever been
rear-ended while waiting for a red light to turn green at an intersection? Well you are
not alone. According to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board, of the
over 7million traffic accidents happening each year in the United states, about 42%
The Unpredicted Complications Caused by Rear-End
Collisions
Have you ever been rear-ended while waiting for a red light to turn green at an
intersection? Well you are not alone. According to a report from the National
Transportation Safety Board, of the over 7million traffic accidents happening each
year in the United states, about 42% fall under rear-end collisions. Most of them are
minor fender benders, that produce in most cases a superficial damage to the rearended
vehicle, like a cracked tail light or scratched bumper. But unfortunately, even
minor rear-end accidents can cause more serious, underlying problems to your car that
you may not discover for a long period of time, the kind of problems that could put
your safety, and that of your family, in danger. So, without further ado, here are the
most common underlying problems caused by rear-end accidents.
1. Trunk Complications
There are many problems that fall under this category, trunk related problems that can
be caused by a rear-end accident, even when your car looks Ok, like:
LID POPS OPEN
You could be cruising on the highway minding your own business one day and the
trunk lid suddenly opens, blocking your rear view.
LID CAN NOT BE LOCKED
This is very common and extremely inconvenient, especially if you must get going or
when you can’t be keeping an eye on your car in a neighborhood where there is a
chance your car might be broken in to.
WATER LEEKS
Rear-end accidents can damage your trunk lid’s seal, which will allow water from the
rain or a car wash to drip inside your trunk which can be very harmful if not
discovered early.
OPENING NIGHTMARES
This one will drive you crazy, you’re standing in the parking lot and you have tried
every trick on the book while exhausting your patience but still can’t get the trunk to
open with your car key or the trunk release button inside your car.
Neglected trunk malfunctions can cause your car’s resale value to go down, so after a
fender bender, make sure your next stop is at a reliable body shop to have the problem
diagnosed and fixed, if you are in Lowell or any nearby town, your spot is Patriots
Auto Body on 11 Spring Ave.
2. Misalignment of you Wheels
if your wheels are misaligned, you’ll feel these driving abnormalities:
CAR TRACKS UNEVENLY DOWN THE ROAD
This will make riding thru winding roads extremely hard.
STEERING WHEEL SEEMS UNSTABLE
If your car seems wobbly and your wheels are tending to move unsteadily from side to
side which Could interfere with your ability to swerve if you need to.
COMMON VIBRATIONS
This is extremely bad and will make your car drives uncomfortable for you and your
passengers. In addition to being in constant danger, you will experience uneven tire
wear that needs to be replaced which will cost you money.
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS
Even a small fender bender or a minor collision can cause the wires, that comprise the
various electrical systems that keep your car operating, to be loose. As time passes
by, loose wires can affect your car’s:
SOUND SYSTEM FAILURE
We all like to have our stereo system to be operational as no one likes to drive without
their audio system not working.
BROKEN TAIL LIGHTS
If your car tail lights are broken or cracked, then it will be impossible for the drivers
behind your car to see your tail lights when you’re reducing your speed or coming to a
stop.
All these unpredicted electrical problems are legitimate reasons to have the electric
system checked out at a Patriots Auto Body shop if your car gets rear-ended.
Frame Bending
Your car’s bumpers are made only from plastic. If your bumper gets dented or
cracked because of a fender bender, it could be that the damage may reach the frame
of your car. Even a minor collision can damage your frame. Unrepaired frame
damage can lead to many problems like:
AIRBAG SENSORS WARNING
This is one of the most important lights you can see on your dashboard. A car’s airbag
system consists of a few sensors that can fail or malfunction and needs to be replaced
at Patriots Auto Body.
Don’t Underestimate a Rear-End Collision
If your car is part of any type of rear-end accident, even when you can’t spot any
damage, don’t take a chance with underlying problems that can put your safety in
danger. Instead, you have to bring it to a dependable auto body shop to have the
damage assessed. Patriots Auto Body shop technicians have the expertise and tools to
find and fix every damage so you can get back on the road safely again.
How Car Insurance Works?
How Car Insurance Works? Our cars are very dear to us, and we acquire insurance
coverage to provide them with protection against any damage or loss. Each state also
mandates the types of insurance coverage drivers must have to be able to drive in their
streets. However, the fine prints in your policy can be
How Car Insurance Works?
Our cars are very dear to us, and we acquire insurance coverage to provide them with
protection against any damage or loss. Each state also mandates the types of
insurance coverage drivers must have to be able to drive in their streets. However, the
fine prints in your policy can be hard to understand. Being able to understand what
your auto insurance policy is all about is extremely important, especially in the case of
a car accident and your car is in its way to the collision center. Knowing your
insurance policy is crucial during the process of repairing your car at the Auto Body
Shop. To help you with this process Patriots Auto Body is here to explain the
insurance terminology to you.
Collision Coverage
Collision insurance pops up when you are involved in an accident and it covers the
structural or mechanical damage of your car. That damage can be caused by other
moving cars, trucks or objects but NOT by animals or when you are not the driver.
Your policy includes a deductible, which usually range from $500 to a $1,000, which
will be responsibility to pay in order to have it fixed when the accident is caused by
you.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive insurance kicks in when you are not the driver at the time of the
accident or when the car is simply in the parking. Mother nature’s damage to your car
like hail for example falls under the category of comprehensive coverage. This policy
will protect you in the case of windshield repair, hitting a deer or any other animal,
Fire, theft and vandalism. This policy, like the Collision Coverage, carry a deductible
that you will have to provide before the restoration is on its way.
Liability Coverage
There are two types of Liability coverage:
The first one is bodily injury Coverage which pays for any injury suffered by the
drivers and their passengers in a collision that you caused.
The second type is Property damage coverage which pays for any damage caused to
another person’s property, like a car, a fence, a house …
each state has a maximum for liability coverage, and your insurance carrier will pay in
case you are at fault. If your policy does not cover the whole damage you will be
responsible to pay the remaining balance.
Full Coverage “Myth”
there is no insurance coverage called “full coverage,” most people think of full
coverage as combination of coverages that help protect a vehicle. But, there’s really
no such thing as “full coverage” for your car. Some coverages (such as auto liability)
are required by state law. Others (such as rental reimbursement) may be optional,
depending on the insurer and your situation. So, it’s your choice to choose the ideal
policy for you and your family.
Gap Insurance
You might consider this policy if you’re leasing your vehicle, or when your car’s
value is less than what you owe. If your car is a total loss your insurance company
will pay the difference between the loan balance and your car’s actual cash value
(ACV).
Commercial insurance
This policy will protect your car if you use it for your job, for example as an Lyft
driver or sales representative. This coverage is usually more expensive because the
payouts limits are higher.
Patriots Auto Body works directly with ALL the Insurance
Carriers
Understanding your insurance policy is not an easy task. if you’re involved in an
accident, bring your car or truck to a Patriots Collision Center, and we will get it
restored to its manufacturer condition.
Our professional technicians have the training, equipment and necessary expertise to
repair your beloved car.