Collision to Completion: Your first steps after a crash

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After the dust settles in a vehicle collision, there can be another ordeal: getting your ride back in shape and on the road. Starting off on the right path at the scene can be difficult due to possible disorientation and charged emotions, not to mention the distraction of traffic, police, and tow vehicles. Getting any injuries attended to is step one, followed by getting your vehicle safely off the road. Those are usually attended to by emergency responders, but after that, you really need to keep your wits about you and have some pertinent info immediately on hand.

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Know your rights. Regardless of what any tow-truck operator tells you, you and only you should decide where your vehicle is taken. This is where and when it pays to be prepared. Those pamphlet folders that auto retailers provide in the glove-box usually contain collision shop contact info for their recommended facilities and your proof of insurance slip will have a toll-free number for inquiries on their preferred shops among other things. Of course this is only helpful if your collision occurs near your home, but statistics show that the majority of collisions happen near drivers’ home addresses.

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Even if it’s after hours, always check to see if your vehicle can be taken to a shop of your choice. A one night stay in a towing/recovery compound can cost you $500 and up (not including the tow). This might be okay if you know you will be starting an insurance claim, but if for any reason you choose not to, you’ll be paying those charges out of pocket.

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One of the biggest delays in getting an insurance-covered collision repair completed – the appraisal – has pretty much been eliminated by online submissions. But shops listed as preferred by your insurance carrier can be faster still, thanks to direct claims submissions and automatic approvals on any additional required work (within limits).

It’s at this stage (when the appraisal has been completed, but before any work begins) that you want to review that document to see exactly what’s going to be done and with what type of parts. Unless your ride is less than a year old (or if you have a clause on your policy that indicates factory original parts only) you may find that aftermarket, remanufactured, and even used parts may be listed. It’s helpful to review this with someone who knows the jargon to guide you through the maze. If you have any problems with your insurance company’s choice of part sources, you need to get things straightened out quickly before the shop orders the required components. Most body repairs prefer factory parts over aftermarket for a better fit and easier installation and you may have the option of paying any extra costs to upgrade to factory pieces.

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Parts and shop delays can be aggravating and are almost the norm these days, especially in the midst of the pandemic and the fragility of supply chains. If you’re renting a car that’s being covered by your insurance, check your claim limit. Most have a hard ceiling based on total costs, so renting a $30 per day auto will get you more days of use than renting one that has a $90 tag. Collision shops used to make a practice of covering any rental charges when your insurance coverage runs out, but with extended delays climbing sharply, few (if any) will offer this feature anymore.

In Part Two , we’ll discuss post-repair check-ups you can do yourself to avoid any lingering headaches.