How to Get Your Car Repaired After an Accident in Ohio

Auto Repairs after an Ohio Car Accident

Dealing with an auto accident can be highly stressful, and you’ll need help to pay for your various losses, including car repairs or replacement. Our Ohio car accident lawyers are familiar with how insurance companies function and will fight to ensure that our clients receive a fair settlement.

Let us assess the damage, recover what you need to fix your car, and get back on the road. Call 1-800-HURT-NOW for a free consultation.

Steps to Take After an Ohio Car Accident

Following an accident, you may wonder what steps to take to get your car fixed as soon as possible. Suppose the crash resulted from another driver’s negligence. In that case, you might be able to obtain compensation by filing a claim with your own or the negligent driver’s insurance company based on the circumstances and policies involved. But first, you must provide evidence that an accident occurred and that damages exist.

Report Your Car Accident

To ensure that your accident is recorded, report your accident as soon as possible to the police. Once an official accident report is written, request a copy, as you’ll need it to prove your accident to an insurance company.

After reporting your accident, you’ll want to document your damages, as you must have proof that damages occurred. Photographs of the accident scene can be used as evidence, as can eyewitness accounts. If you have a cell phone at the time of the crash and are able, take as many photos of the crash scene as you can.

Be sure to speak with law enforcement officials if your car is being towed to a repair shop. You will want to note where the vehicle is being taken so you can get it out of impound or take it to an auto repair shop of your choosing.

Add Up Your Repair Costs & Submit a Claim

Knowing the value of your vehicle and the cost of your damages is essential to know whether an insurance company’s settlement offer is fair. To calculate the value of your vehicle, start by looking at Kelly Blue Book and National Appraisal Guides.

For the cost of repairs, obtain a quote from a mechanic or body shop. If you’ve already taken your car to a mechanic or body shop, keep all bills and records of repair estimates. These calculations will help you ensure that you receive fair compensation.

Finally, you’ll want to submit a claim. Generally, you’ll submit your claim to the negligent driver’s insurance company. But if the other driver was uninsured or underinsured, you may be making a claim against your policy instead or in addition.

Never speak to the insurance company or give them a statement unless you talk with your attorney first. Insurance companies have been known to delay the processing of claims, reduce the value of victims’ losses, and even blame injury victims for their damages. Protect yourself. Contact an experienced attorney for help in navigating the insurance claims process.

Select a Car Repair Shop

When selecting a repair shop of your choosing, there are signs you can look for that the auto repair shop in question may be reputable. Some of these include:

• ASE certification
• AAA affiliation
• Repair shops that offer warranties on the repairs
• Positive online reviews
• Competitive auto repair prices
• Mechanics that show you what is wrong with your vehicle before moving forward with repairs
• Better Business Bureau certification
• NAPA auto care certification
• AC-Delco certification

You have the right to take your vehicle to any repair shop of your choosing. However, your insurance company may have specific repair shops that they prefer to work with.

Get Your Car Fixed

Following your filing of an insurance claim, the insurance company will likely ask you to bring your car to a mechanic or body shop to have your damages assessed. If the insurance company offers you a settlement after evaluating the damage to your vehicle, the money you receive can go toward the cost of repairs. At that point, you’re free to get your car fixed.

It is difficult to say how long it will take to repair your vehicle. Many factors are considered, including the extent of the damage, where the car was damaged, whether the repair shop has to order parts or has them on hand, and more.

Renting a Car After an Accident

While you are waiting for your vehicle to repair, you may be able to obtain a rental car. Ohio is an at-fault state for insurance purposes, so The defendant and/or their insurance company should cover the cost. However, you may need to cover these expenses out of your pocket and then seek reimbursement for them in your insurance and civil claims.

Was Your Vehicle “Totaled”?

If your vehicle is so badly damaged that the cost of repairs exceeds the value of the vehicle, however, your car may be “totaled,” in which case, you may lose the title to your car by accepting the insurance company’s settlement.

Getting Around While a Car Accident Case is Pending

While your vehicle is being repaired, you have several options for getting around, including:

• Utilizing public transportation or a rideshare service
• Obtaining a loaner car
• Purchasing a rental car
• Relying on friends and family

Keep in Touch During Car Repairs

For the duration of your auto repairs, you should check with your insurance company to ensure you have met all their requirements and have the documentation you need to move forward with repairs. This may include an itemized list of the repairs your vehicle needs or obtained and the associated costs.

Work With a Lawyer to Maximize Compensation

Although you may be hesitant to pursue legal action, having a lawyer handle the insurance process or lawsuit, if necessary, is often the best way to get all the compensation you’ll need. This includes vehicle costs since insurance companies usually work to reduce what they owe by blaming you for part of the accident or diminishing the damage done to your car.

KNR’s Legal Team Will:

• Investigate, collect evidence, and find those at fault.
• Interview witnesses, medical professionals, and experts to show how your life was impacted.
• Communicate with the insurer, clarify liability, and pursue max compensation.
• Determine your accident’s full and fair value – what you lost and deserve.
• Keep you informed and involved. KNR is available by phone, text, email, or Zoom.
• Protect your rights and, if necessary, take your case to court.
• Never charge you upfront. If there’s no recovery, there’s no cost.

We use every available resource so you can recover physically and financially after a car accident.

Car Accident Repair FAQs

Who pays my deductible?

Since Ohio is a fault state, you will not file a claim with your insurance company. You will file one with that of the liable party. If you opt to file a claim with your own insurance company since you purchase UIM coverage, you can cover the cost of your deductible out of your pocket and then seek reimbursement for these funds later.

How will I pay for hit & run repairs?

You can seek compensation from the driver who fled the scene once law enforcement officials identify them. You can file a claim with their insurance company if they have insurance. If they do not, you can file a lawsuit. If they cannot be located or have sufficient assets, you may be limited to filing a UIM claim with your own provider.

Will my insurance drop me after a car accident?

It is unlikely that your insurance company will drop you after a car accident. Insurance companies generate revenue by bringing in profits through policy premiums. However, if you file multiple claims with your insurance company over a short period, they may opt to drop you when your policy renews.

Need Help with Car Accident Repairs? Call KNR

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we’ve helped numerous individuals recover compensation for damaged vehicles. We’re familiar with how insurance companies operate, the tactics they use to pay people less, and how to achieve fair outcomes that account for both vehicle damages and other losses. Let us explain what you can expect from a car accident claim.

Get your free, no-risk consultation. Call 1-800-HURT-NOW today.