When an accident damages the vehicle, you’ll need repairs done to restore the vehicle to its previous state. These repairs can be costly, making it necessary to seek insurance compensation.

The thing is, getting an insurance company to reimburse you the amount needed to cover damages in full is not easy. It can be a frustrating process that may not even end in your favor.

As such, it’s important to reach out to legal experts near you who understand the local processes and paperwork issues. If you live in LA and its environs, for instance, an auto accident attorney in Los Angeles is the person you want to go through.

The Compensation Process

After an accident, you have several options for getting your vehicle repaired. If you’re counting on insurance compensation, repair options available to you depend on:

  • The type of accident
  • The auto insurance coverage you have
  • The at-fault party
  • The other driver’s insurance cover

Available Auto Repair Options

Below are the options to consider right after an accident.

  • At Fault Driver’s Insurance Cover

The first option, and the best to go after, is the liability car insurance cover the at-fault driver most likely has. It’s uncommon that a registered vehicle doesn’t have liability insurance.

In cases where the at-fault party doesn’t have auto insurance, your attorney may have to look into any relevant property damage cover they may have.

Now, once you reach out to the other driver’s insurance company to file a claim, they will send a claims adjuster to go over the repair estimates and negotiate the claim.

If things go well, your claim will go through fast. 

However, the insurance company may want to inspect the damage and get their own estimates. They have the right to do that. You reserve the right to be present throughout the process.

The negotiation part will take into consideration policy limits as you can only receive compensation up to the driver’s policy limit.

  • Other Than Collision Coverage

Many times car accidents don’t involve another driver ramming into your vehicle.

When that happens and your car suffers damage, your only option is your car insurance policy. But whether you get compensated depends on what your policy entails.

Usually, comprehensive insurance is an optional coverage on your auto insurance policy. If you have it, then damages to your vehicle outside of a collision can be paid for.

Your compensation, however, is subject to a previously set deductible, which you pay out of pocket while the cover takes care of the rest.

If you’re wondering, some of the damages comprehensive insurance tend to pay for include:

  • Natural disasters like bad weather
  • Vandalism and theft
  • Falling objects like tree branches
  • Damage caused by animals
  • Fire

  • Collision Cover

You can also go with collision coverage, which is part of your own auto insurance policy. There are various reasons you may have to turn to your insurance cover for compensation.

For instance, if you’re the at-fault party, you can’t get compensated by the other driver’s insurance. Likewise, if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance or any at all, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance carrier.

The other factor relates to living in a no-fault state.

In the US, certain states such as Florida, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota have no-fault laws when it comes to auto insurance. The rules regarding compensation are different in these states compared to liability states.

Basically, no-fault states don’t assign responsibility for an accident, meaning that it doesn’t matter who’s at fault. When an accident occurs, involved parties can only seek compensation from their own insurance policies to cover injuries and damages.

If, for whatever reason, you have to file a claim with your own insurance company, keep in mind that collision coverage pays for damages caused by collisions with other vehicles and objects.

Also, much like comprehensive coverage, you’ll need to pay a pre-set deductible unless your insurer intends to go after the other driver’s insurer for reimbursement.

  • Out of Pocket

In some cases, you may end up footing the repair costs yourself out of pocket. 

For instance,  if you are the at-fault driver and can’t file a claim against the other driver’s insurer, and if the accident doesn’t meet the terms of your own auto insurance policy.

You may also pay out of pocket if the damages are superficial and nobody else was involved. This way, you avoid risking an increase in your premium rates.

Conclusion

Working with insurance companies after an accident can be a pain. It can be overwhelming, especially when you’re suffering from injuries and your vehicle is likely damaged. Hopefully, this post will help ease the process by showing you available auto repair options.