Ask an Expert: How to handle collision insurance

by John and Theresa Kightlinger

In the United States, there are nearly 14,000 vehicle accidents every day, according to
data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. With the real possibility of a crash, it’s important to know what to do following an accident, especially for collision insurance.
Let’s explore collision insurance and learn how this coverage is instrumental in the
collision repair process.

What is collision insurance? Collision insurance is a type of coverage designed to repair your vehicle or replace it after you’ve been in an accident, including :
● You have a vehicle accident with another vehicle.
● You have an accident that involves another object, such as a pole, fence, or guardrail.
● You are in an accident and another vehicle crashes into yours, such as a hit-and-run accident.
● Your vehicle rolls over.

In most instances, collision insurance is an optional coverage, which means you often will need to pay additional money to add this protection to your insurance coverage.
However, if you have a car loan or are leasing your vehicle, most lenders will require you to have collision insurance.

What does collision insurance not cover? While collision insurance can cover an array of situations, there are specific instances where your collision insurance would not pay benefits. These include:
● Injuries.
● Damage to another individual’s car.
● Any damage sustained because of hail, flood, or other weather-related incidents.
● Stolen vehicle.
● Repairs to an object you crash into (such as a pole or fence).

If you want coverage for damage caused by fire, hail, flood, theft, or animal collision,
you’ll need comprehensive insurance.

How does collision insurance work for collision repair? If you have been in an accident with another vehicle, your collision insurance may pay for your car repair bills after you’ve paid the deductible. For example, if your car repair bills totaled $4,500 and you have a deductible of $500, your collision insurance would offer up to $4,000 for your car repair bills.

After you file a claim with your insurance company, an adjuster will estimate the amount it will cost to repair your vehicle. Then, they will offer you a settlement amount.

Can you negotiate the collision insurance amount? Yes. After you’ve been in an accident, you and your car insurance company must agree on a fair payout for your vehicle’s damage. Although the insurance company may enter negotiations with the upper hand, you can negotiate the amount. If the insurer’s initial offer isn’t sufficient, you can ask them to explain the offer.
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the factors they used to determine the amount. Afterward, you can make a counter proposal based on the repair estimates you have received. Oftentimes, the insurance company will offer your payout amount based on the cheapest possible scenario.
However, as the insurance policy holder, you deserve to have the auto accident repair performed at any shop you choose. Besides, you don’t want the work performed by inexperienced auto body repair technicians. Instead, it’s best to have the job done by a
quality collision repair center.

John and Theresa Kightlinger own My Body Shop at 401 N. Clinton St., Stockbridge. The couple have lived in the area and raised their children here over the past 20 years. John has been in the auto body business since 1985, and Theresa began work at General Motors after high school. Between the two, they have been working on cars for more than 75 years.