Tips for Getting Your Car Repaired After an Accident in Amarillo
When you’ve been in a major car accident, the first thing you’ll be concerned about is your physical health. Eventually, your thoughts will turn to how you are going to pay for your car repairs. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, securing the compensation you need to fix your car can be difficult.
Fortunately, when you need car repairs after an accident, you have several options, including filing a lawsuit. Here are some tips for getting your car repaired after an accident, and advice for hiring a car accident attorney for a potential lawsuit.
Proving Fault
The best way to repair your car after an accident is to file an insurance claim. However, the company that you file with will depend on the state in which you live.
For most states, you will need to prove the fault of the other driver before you will be able to file a claim with their insurance company. On the other hand, a few states are categorized as no-fault states, which means you are only allowed to file a claim against your own insurance. Certain no-fault states do not extend coverage to vehicles, which means you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to get your compensation.
Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
If you’re considering filing a claim with your own insurance company for car repairs, you should examine the type of coverage your policy provides.
For instance, if the other driver in your case does not have insurance, then the collision coverage of your insurance policy should pay for your repairs. Your collision coverage should only be used if the at-fault driver is uninsured or has inadequate insurance.
If your car was parked when your accident occurred, then you might make a claim against your comprehensive coverage. However, as with collision coverage, this would only be used if the other driver doesn’t have insurance.
Also, if you were at fault in your accident, then you would have to file a claim against your own insurance.
Receiving Your Payment
To get your insurance payment, there are a few steps you need to follow. First, you should file a claim. Secondly, if your car is still operational, you will bring it to the insurer for inspection. If it isn’t drivable, they will send an inspector to you. Thirdly, the insurer will provide you with a repair estimate, which you will then bring to a mechanic. If the mechanic agrees to work for the estimate, you can get your car repaired.
The amount that you will receive for repairs is limited by the insurance policy. If the other driver’s insurance only covers $5,000 worth of repairs and your car experienced $6,000 worth of damages, you will either have to pay to remainder yourself or have your car accident attorney file a lawsuit. It’s also possible you may disagree with the insurer’s repair estimate. If so, you will likely have to bring a suit against them to get the compensation that you need.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney
You rely on a fully-functioning vehicle, which means you need to get your car repaired as soon as possible after a car accident. To have the best chance of getting the funding you need to repair your car, you should consider hiring a car accident attorney from Tormey & McConnell.
The attorneys at Tormey & McConnell can fight the insurance companies so that you can repair your car quickly and easily. Schedule a consultation today.