Accidents suck and we all know that, but being prepared and knowing what to do afterward can help make sure you get the most money and best repair possible.  The information below applies after the accident and in cases where there was no bodily injury.  If there was any bodily injuries it is best advised to obtain an experienced lawyer whom will best determine the outcome in your scenario.  Don’t ever try and settle a bodily injury case without first consulting an attorney as you will never do as well as they can (usually not even close). 

Once you have determined whom is at fault, this is usually done by the two insurance carriers (yours and the other party as they both review the police report and whom is most at fault).  It is best to wait for the insurance claim representative or adjuster to come out and look at your vehicle.  They will give you or mail you a check which will almost always be lower than the actual cost of the repair.  Then go to a well established body shop to have them do a written estimate of the repairs.  Even though their estimate will almost always be higher than the insurance companies check that is okay as the bodyshop will handle this matter with the insurance company for you and you will not pay the difference.

The bodyshop will also, usually, handle obtaining a rental car for you while your vehicle is being repaired.  Again, as long as you were not at fault the insurance company will pay for this also.  As long as you were found to be not at fault you shouldn’t have any expenses here.  On average it will probably take the bodyshop 3-5 business days to complete the repairs and get you back your vehicle.  Once you get back your vehicle it will look as though it had never been in an accident and be as good as before (as long as you picked a well established body shop to do the repairs).

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In some cases, the insurance company may deem the estimate and extent of repairs to be too high for the vehicle in question and then they will just total the car.  When they do this they will cut you a check for the wholesale value of the vehicle.  Yes, I know, that sucks when you should get the actual retail for something you paid retail for.  This is why many lenders require GAP insurance on leases (GAP insurance covers the difference between wholesale and retail or the value the insurance company gives and what is owed).  Without GAP insurance one may actually find they owe money on a wreck they didn’t cause.  The good thing here is that this is rare and in most circumstances where a vehicle is deemed totaled a personal injury lawyer is involved so this usually will be taken care of as part of the settlement with the other side.

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