Getting your vehicle repaired after an accident can be a frustrating experience, particularly if an insurance company is trying to bully you into using a specific repair shop or if they are refusing to accept a car accident repair estimate. It’s important to know what your rights are when it comes to vehicle repairs. Call The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ at 713-714-1414 or fill our online form today for a free consultation to discuss your car accident case.
You Can Choose the Repair Facility
The insurance company might try to pressure you to use a particular car repair shop, often because they have an existing relationship. These repair shops often provide discounted repair services that help keep the insurance company’s costs down. While this sounds advantageous in theory, it could also result in cut corners and inferior parts being used in some instances.
Know that although the insurance company might recommend a facility to you, you are not required to use that facility. In Texas, you have the right to have your vehicle towed to and repaired by any body shop you choose.
If the insurance company recommends a specific repair shop to you, they may have to disclose that they have a relationship with the repair service provider. Whatever you do, make sure that you thoroughly review your options before choosing a car repair facility. By selecting a repair shop that values quality work, you can ensure your vehicle will be safe for future use.
What Insurance Covers Car Repairs?
Depending on the nature of the car accident, different types of insurance can be used to cover car repairs. Some of the common types of insurance that covers car repairs include:
- Property damage liability – If you were involved in an accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, then you could claim compensation for car repairs through their liability policy. All Texas drivers are required to carry liability insurance. If the other driver was at fault for the accident, you could hold them accountable through their insurance company.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage – In some cases, you may have to turn to your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to pay for car repairs. For instance, if you were hit by a driver who doesn’t have sufficient insurance to cover your repairs, or if you were involved in a hit and run accident and aren’t able to track down the hit and run driver, then you could turn to your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if you purchased it.
- Collision insurance – Finally, you could also turn to collision coverage to pay for car repairs if you have purchased collision insurance as part of your insurance policy. Collision coverage can be used whether or not you were at fault for an accident.
What If The Insurance Estimate Is Lower Than the Repair Shop’s?
If your insurer’s car accident repair estimate is lower than the repair shop’s and the insurance company refuses to accept the shop’s estimate, you can:
- Ask the insurance company to increase their estimate
- Ask the insurance company to cover the repair shop’s proposed costs
- Make out-of-pocket payments for the cost difference between their estimate and the repair shop’s
You can also contact a Houston car accident attorney who can review any offer the insurance company makes to settle your claim and advise you whether or not it is fair.
Contact a Houston Car Accident Attorney Today
Insurance companies are for-profit entities, and their goal is to minimize costs as much as possible. If an insurance company is trying to bully you into getting your vehicle repaired at a particular body shop or if they are refusing to accept your shop’s estimate, it might be time to get an attorney involved. Contact The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ today to discuss your car accident case.
