Year: 2020

When Should A Bumper Be Repaired Versus Replaced

A bumper is more than just something that makes your vehicle look good, it’s a vital component for driver and passenger safety. If your bumper is damaged, you should consider having it repaired or replaced before something more serious happens. The good news, not all bumpers need to be replaced because many of them are repairable. Bumpers can become damaged in a number of ways, whether it’s a traffic accident, being rear-ended in a parking lot or you accidentally drive into an object yourself.

When it comes to filing an insurance claim for minor bumper repairs, depending on the extent of the damage, it isn’t always feasible and your rates can also be increased as a result. Therefore, it’s important to know when it makes more sense to repair a bumper or whether you should just replace it.

Below are three examples that explain when bumpers can be repaired and when they should be replaced.

Bumper Hooks are Broken or Damaged

If the bumper hooks are broken or damaged on your vehicle, you will need to replace your bumper. Bumpers are designed with hooks that adhere to the splash guard, grill, and valance panel. If your bumper hooks are broken or damaged, the integrity of your bumper will be compromised and could fall off without warning.

Simply repairing or replacing the broken or damaged hooks will not work because once hooks break, there’s no way to attach them. You will need a new bumper with the hooks already attached to ensure that your bumper stays on your vehicle.

Minor Paint Damage

Depending on the extent of the damage to the paint job, there are some options available for repair. If your bumper is full of deep scratches or is missing large sections of paint, you may want to consider replacing your bumper. Bodywork and repainting your bumper back to its factory condition can cost almost as much as a new bumper; therefore, it’s more feasible to buy a new one.

On the other hand, if your bumper has minor paint damage, you can easily have it repaired for a few hundred bucks by a professional auto body repair specialist. The best way to know which option is the best is to get an estimate for the damages.

Cracked Bumpers

Cracked bumpers are in the same category as paint damage. Depending on the size of the crack and length can determine whether or not you should repair or replace it. Since cracks in bumpers need to be filled with a body filler, sanded, primed, and painted, the size of the crack does matter.

Small cracks can generally be repaired without too many issues; however, large cracks can cause your bumper to lose its structural integrity and should be replaced as opposed to being repaired. For maximum vehicle and passenger safety, bumpers with large cracks should be replaced.

Finding a Trustworthy Auto Body Shop

Depending on where you live, there are several options for finding a trustworthy and professional body shop. Performing an online search with the key phrase “auto body shops near me” will result in the top auto body specialists in your immediate area being displayed on your web browser. You can also ask your friends and relatives if they know of one. Additionally, you may even know where some are located, simply stop in and have them access the damage to your bumper.

Getting a Professional Opinion

Taking your vehicle to a professional auto body and collision repair shop can help you to determine whether you need a new bumper or not. Most auto body repair shops are experienced with handling insurance claims, and they can get your vehicle back on the road in the fastest time, saving you both time and money. For more information about bumper repair or replacement, please fill out the contact form.

Do I Need a Police Report After a Car Accident?

There are some instances where you won’t need a police report after a car accident, and there will be others where you will. There are deciding factors in the equation that will help you determine when you must file a police report.

Accidents happen and an average driver is likely to experience a vehicular accident a few or more times during their driving lifetime. Usually these accidents won’t involve loss of life or serious injuries, but any accident can traumatize a driver. No matter the accident’s magnitude, any repairs, large or small, will probably enter into the situation. With the chances of an accident happening, prepare ahead of time for what a police report entails and what justifies filing one.

State Laws

Every state has their own rules that determine when to file a police report. So, wherever you live will affect what you have to do concerning filing a report. One state ruling in Texas says that if a police officer arrives on the crash scene, that officer has to file a report within 10 days after the accident. From there, a copy of the report is usually available within 5-8 days after the filing. Additionally, if there is an injury, with damage over $1,000, an accident report is necessary and a peace officer will complete a crash report. In contrast, the state of Vermont requires that property damage reach at least $3,000 and that any injuries are taken into account. A written report is sent to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles within a 72-hour period of the accident occurrence.

When you Need a Police Report

An accident report is usually unnecessary when vehicle damage is minimal, injuries are non existent and the drivers involved carry insurance and legal licenses. When minor accidents occur, most interactions between drivers are usually civil, but all that can change once both drivers examine an accident more closely. After the excitement has subsided, and those involved rehash what happened, and a medical issue or undetected damage surfaces, the whole view of a minor accident can change.

The facts can be vague even a few days after an accident. All this makes it imperative to file a police report at the time of the accident, minor or otherwise. There is no way of knowing whether a lawsuit will be in the mix down the road. If there is involvement with the police from the beginning, they will substantiate what has happened at the scene. They should be able to determine injured individuals, who was at fault, the extent of damages and the actual accident scene dynamics. When the police aren’t on the scene, it will be a case of your word against that of the other driver. That’s why it’s important to have complete documentation from the scene should legal matters come into play.

Besides written documentation, take pictures of your vehicle, the other vehicle, and the area around the accident. You can use the pictures as later evidence in case there is a lawsuit or there are direct questions by the police.

Making an Insurance Claim

If damage to your vehicle is limited, a police report will not be necessary to file a claim. A police report is only necessary when damage is extensive and you want compensation or a crime has taken place at the accident scene. It is, however, to your advantage to have a police report in hand to give to your insurance provider to speed up the claim process.

Accidents on Private Property

Accidents that occur on private property do not require filing a police report. Private property would be an individual’s home driveway, a shopping mall parking lot, or an individual’s business, such as a motel. With that in mind, it will be your responsibility to gather pertinent information to file an insurance claim. If you do contact the police, they will ask you the location or address of the accident. They will further inform you whether the police will come to the area or provide a report if the location happens to be private property. Any police report is going to be for accidents that happen on highways, city and county roads or other streets.

Other Instances of Non-reporting

Police reports only document what happens in accidents involving two or more individuals and their vehicles. Also, a report is only necessary when extensive property damage or injuries occur. A single vehicle collision such as running into a light pole does not justify calling for a police report. You simply assess and document the damage and contact your insurance company.

In certain situations and instances, filing a police report according to your individual state laws may be necessary. If you’re unsure as to the requirements in your state, or you just have general questions, complete the online contact form and a representative will get back to you with the answers you need to make an informed decision.

Finding Reliable Windshield Replacement in Medford, NJ

According to most insurance companies in New Jersey and throughout the US, damaged windshields rank the highest among reported insurance claims in the industry. It doesn’t matter how good your driving record is or how safe you drive, windshield damage can happen when you least expect it. Most drivers on the road today at one time or another have experienced an airborne rock that hits their windshield from another passing vehicle that causes damage.

If your windshield becomes damaged, there’s a good chance that you will need to either have it repaired or replaced with a certified windshield installer in New Jersey before too long. Please continue reading to learn when to repair or replace damaged windshields.

Damaged Windshield Factors

Windshield chips are not created equal; therefore, the size and shape of a chip can determine if the damage is repairable or not. If the chip is beyond repair, a windshield replacement is your only option.

The location of a chip can also be a leading factor when it comes to either a quick repair or replacement if the damage extends beyond the outer perimeter of the windshield. Windshield replacement may also be necessary if the crack is obstructing the driver’s view or causes a crack that spreads across the windshield.

6 Types of Windshield Damage

Knowing the six different types of windshield damage can help you determine the severity of the damage and just how soon you should contact a New Jersey repair specialist. Failure to repair or replace a damaged windshield can obstruct your view, cause an accident or get you pulled over by the police.

Surface Pit: Chips in the glass are known as surface pits and are generally small in nature. They don’t cause significant damage to your windshield and surface pits bigger than 1/8th of an inch can be repaired.
Crack: A crack typically starts out small and gradually expands or instantly forms when an object impacts it. They extend horizontally across the windshield and can be repaired as long as they’re not in the driver’s view or smaller than 14 inches.
Bullseye: A bullseye forms a dark circle at the sight of impact with a cone-shape around the outer layer. A bullseye in your windshield can be fixed as long as the diameter is less than one inch, not in the driver’s view, and doesn’t contain any debris or dirt.
Star Break: A star break can oftentimes look like a star or spider web. Many cracks form in several different directions from the site of impact with a star break. A star break can be repaired if it’s less than three inches in diameter.
Half Moon: Half moons are half the size of a bullseye, and they can be repaired as long as the damage is less than one inch in diameter.
Combination: A combination will include several of the elements listed above and look like an impact from a baseball. Combination windshield damage can be repaired if the damage is less than two inches in diameter.

Finding a Good Windshield Repair Company in New Jersey

With standard rates for windshield replacements ranging between $200 to $1,000, it’s important to hire a company that installs high-quality auto glass and guarantees their work. A trustworthy business will have a strong community presence with a solid reputation for quality installations and customer service. Most professionals will have have a website that explains more of their services and provides contact and additional information.

Hiring a business that is certified as an auto glass technician is a good way to ensure that you’re getting the best in industry and safety standards. If you live in the greater Medford area and have a damaged windshield? Please fill out the contact form to be put in touch with a certified technician for immediate repair or replacement windshield services in South Jersey.

When To File A Car Insurance Claim

If you’re involved in an accident, particularly one that involves another vehicle, you’re pretty much under obligation to file an insurance claim. If you don’t, you’re likely at risk for legal implications. So, exactly what constitutes filing a car insurance claim? Here are answers to better help you understand when to file a claim.

Damage Sustained

When two vehicles are involved in an accident where significant damage has occurred, it’s imperative to contact your insurance carrier. Substantial damage warrants filing a claim in spite of who is at fault in the accident. If there are doubts as to the extent of damage, don’t let it go by the board. Even the slightest vehicle damage can be extremely expensive to repair. So, beware of personal and quick settlements with the other party or driver when it comes to estimating damages.

Other Involvement

If another driver is involved, or you as a driver damage someone else’s vehicle with a dent, deep scrapes, scratches or other damage, you need to let your insurance company know that a second driver and vehicle are involved. You don’t want the other driver in a two-car incident or run-in to come back at a later date with further claims of more involved damage, increased payouts or even lawsuits.

Liability coverage will serve as protection from lawsuits. Most insurance companies are well versed in dealing with drivers and their accusations concerning accident involvement. Liability insurance pays for any damages or injuries that drivers may cause. It also pays any legal costs or lawsuits that come as the result of an accident.

In regard to damage to your own car, be aware of possible hidden damage and repair costs. Collision insurance coverage should pay for the damage, excluding the deductible. Any amount of damage warrants notifying your insurance carrier within a certain period of time. If you wait too long, your claim payment could be jeopardized.

Serious Injuries

When serious injuries occur to you or another driver because of a collision, it’s necessary to pursue a claim with your insurance carrier. Even if it seems as though any injuries are minor or less critical at the accident scene, it is important to keep in mind that some injury symptoms don’t manifest themselves until sometime later. You don’t want to be held liable for ongoing medical bills for someone else. Your insurance company should be the one handling any medical issues. You don’t want to negotiate any injury payments outside of your policy.

Rate Increase Fears

Drivers who are involved in fender benders or minor accidents (where no injuries have occurred) will try to avoid filing a claim because they fear their insurance rates will increase.

Rather than filing a claim, some drivers prefer negotiating any repair expenses with the other driver in order to avoid increases in their insurance rates. What drivers need to realize is that most insurance companies assess rate increases by the cost of any damage. If the damage happens to be less than a possible rate increase (once a claim has been made), a driver won’t have to use insurance to cover minor vehicle damage.

Failing to File a Claim

Again, in certain situations, there can be serious legal repercussions for not filing a car insurance claim. Here is some of what you should consider when determining whether to file a claim:

Rate Increases

A rate increase will depend solely on your individual insurance company as well as the conditions concerning the accident. Accident forgiveness is also a factor with rate increases. A good driver can be in an accident one time and not be punished with an increase.

Considerations Made with Rate Increases

When deciding whether to raise your rates, here are a few factors your insurance company will consider:

• The severity of the accident – The more severe the damage, the greater the likelihood of a rate increase due to a car insurance carrier making a larger disbursement or payout.
• Who’s at fault – Rates may increase if you were at fault.
• Rates may remain the same if the other driver was liable.
• Rates can increase in some localities and states (no-fault states) or through your insurance company rules and guidelines. Any increase may be less even if the fault was yours.
• Your driving record – If you have a safe driving record, you’re a cost-saving driver to your insurance company. Also, if you’re a long-standing policyholder, you may be assessed a smaller increase in rates in comparison to a driver with a bad driving record and less history.
• Rates are lower for drivers who have no claims, or a smaller number of claims. These drivers are recognized as low-risk. Insurance carriers have determined that safe and competent drivers aren’t inclined to file claims that require payouts.
• Any rate inquiry should go through your insurance company. You will have to ask for a surcharge schedule or connect with your insurance agent. Your company or agent will note your inquiry.

When Not to File a Claim

There is no need to file a claim if:

• the accident involves only you and your vehicle.
• the damage is limited and small, like the kind sustained from backing into a pole or mailbox.
• you only have liability insurance coverage and no collision coverage. A policy will not cover damage to your vehicle without collision coverage.
• you have collision coverage but the damage to your vehicle is limited and your repair costs are less than your deductible (what you pay out of your pocket). In that case, filing a claim is unnecessary.

If you are unsure when to file a car insurance claim, complete the online contact form and a representative will return your inquiry as quickly as possible. Don’t get caught in the possibility of a rate increase or other legal implications because of failing to file an insurance claim quickly and efficiently.

How Long After a Car Accident Can You File a Claim?

After a car accident, the time-frame for filing a claim is dependent on a number of factors. For one thing, each state has its own set of rules concerning reporting accidents as well as filing different types of claims. State limits for filing claims can be anywhere from immediately to a number of years. Knowing your state’s statute of limitations for filing is necessary as is connecting with an insurance agent who handles car accident claims and can move the claim process along more quickly.

Reporting an Accident

Reporting an accident happens prior to filing an insurance claim and, again, depends on state policies. Most states request that any accident that involves injuries or an excess of $2,000 in damages should be reported immediately. Immediately usually means a phone call to the police or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at the time of the accident. If an accident is minor and no claim comes from it, then filing a police report may be unnecessary; however, even if an accident is minor, contacting the authorities is important as any evidence of possible damages or injuries that occur long after an accident is over may be of help in filing a claim.

If additional time is given to report an accident, delays diminish the validity of the claim. The chances of a claim being fully covered for losses will be in question. Courts, as well as insurance companies, look at police or DMV reports as evidence in order to determine the driver at fault in an accident.

When to Initiate a Claim

Depending on what a vehicle insurance policy states in regard to filing a claim, a policyholder may have to initiate a claim within a certain number of hours (usually 24) or at the time of the accident. These are recommended limits but they are not a requirement as drivers can file a claim within the statute of limitations in the state where the accident happened. A state’s limits are usually such that there is sufficient time to fully assess property damage and serious injury complications that may not be present at the time of the accident.

Types of Claims and Time Limits

Within a state, time limits can vary with the type of claim. The time limits or statutes of limitations are categorized under auto insurance claims that include:

Other Damage Claims

property damage to another vehicle
collision (damage to your own vehicle)
comprehensive (damage to your vehicle through an occurrence not related to a collision, such as natural disasters, vandalism, fire, theft, and other calamities)

Bodily injury claims

injury claims that result from a car accident

When to File a Bodily Injury Claim

If injuries occur as the result of a car accident, the passage of time is important in determining the extent of those injuries. Sometimes less serious injuries can have continuing effects that make it hard to function in everyday life. Obviously, more involved injuries are going to require continuous medical attention and are also life-changing.

When medical attention is ongoing, it’s not necessary to wait to file a claim. Rather than waiting, it’s best to initiate the process of whether filing a claim or pursuing a possible lawsuit. A lawsuit will have to meet a filing deadline but the full extent of any injuries and continuing medical attention should be determined before pursuing a claim or lawsuit. Again, it’s important to know the personal injury statute of limitations for the state where the bodily injury occurred.

Passage of Time

Delaying a claim can make it more difficult to justify it over time. Most insurance companies are likely to be distrustful and suspicious of a delayed claim. A holdup could trigger an investigation by an insurance company into why any damages haven’t been handled more quickly. An expanded investigation could turn up information about the damage that occurred through a different accident at a later time. If an insurance company has reason to believe your initial claim never happened or you’re fudging on time, your coverage could be denied.

Once a car accident has occurred, there are certain steps to follow in filing a claim. A full assessment of any damages or injuries needs to be taken into account. Reporting an accident whether it’s a minor or major one should take place quickly. Filing an actual claim should follow with further evaluation of damages and injuries. If you are unsure as to when a claim should be filed, complete the online contact form and a representative will get back to you with the answers you need to pursue your claim in a timely manner.

What to Do When Someone Scratches Your Car

We’ve all experienced the dreaded “scratches.” You come out from your work, the grocery store or the local mall and make your way to your parking spot only to discover that your vehicle has experienced scratch damage.

All the Usual Places

You can usually find scratches on the driver’s side of a vehicle or on the passenger side as well as other larger areas of a vehicle. Discovering any major scratch, especially on a newer vehicle, can be exasperating, maddening and nerve-racking. Once it happens, you wonder how you’re going to fix it all, and at what cost. So, how do you deal with any significant scratch or scratches? Here are some answers.

Dealing with Car Scratches

In relation to car insurance coverage, scratches are dealt with differently. There are factors that determine exactly what kind of coverage is necessary for the repair of various kinds or types of damage that are due to scratches. In addition, certain types of coverage govern whether a scratch or scratches can be repaired at all.

Scratch Category

The actual cause of a scratch or scratches will dictate whether your insurance is going to reimburse you for the damages. If you don’t carry the right type of coverage, your scratches may remain scratches, unless you fit the bill for the expense. Filing a claim will depend on the category of scratch and how it happened.

Insurance Breakdown

In order for a scratch or scratches to go through the repair process, certain kinds of insurance coverage are necessary. One insurance coverage, comprehensive, is part of that coverage. Though it is an optional coverage, it does safeguard a vehicle in the event that scratches occur in certain situations.

Scratches Covered by Comprehensive Insurance

To begin with, comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not within a driver’s control such as fire, natural disasters, vandalism, theft, windshield damage and other calamities. Coverage is necessary if you want to protect your vehicle against scratches and receive reimbursement for the repair costs.

Scratches that happen within the bounds of comprehensive coverage include:

a runaway shopping cart that is driven by the wind, collides with a vehicle and causes a scratch or scratches
defacement by a criminal deliberately scratching a vehicle with a car key or other device
a falling object, like a tree branch, that falls on a vehicle and causes scratches

There will likely be a deductible with comprehensive coverage which means paying that before insurance will take effect and payment made for any repairs. If a scratch or scratches occur because of deliberate defacement or vandalism, making a police report is the first step in the process. Filing an insurance claim is the next step but only if the policy includes comprehensive coverage on the vehicle. A deductible is taken and any remaining repair costs are covered by the insurance policy.

Scratches Covered by Collision

When it comes to collision insurance and dealing with scratches, this type of coverage applies to a vehicle that hits an object and the damage results in a scratch or scratches. Many times scratches are hard to avoid particularly when the circumstances are such that there is not enough maneuvering room to get out of a tight situation. There will be a deductible to fulfill with collision insurance. Damage from a scratch will fall under that deductible rule unless another person (other than the driver) was the cause of the damage.

Scratches that happen within the bounds of collision coverage include:

Scratches that happen in a car wash
Scratches caused by sideswipes involving another vehicle
Scratches from barely rubbing or scraping against a stationary object (light pole or mailbox)
Scratches from a car door that hits your parked car
Scratches that occur during driving because of tree branches

Anonymous Scratches

It’s hard to know what to do when there are no clues as to how your vehicle was scratched. A claim can still be filed and the circumstances discussed with an insurance claims adjuster. A good claims adjuster will be able to assess the damage and pretty much determine how the scratch or scratches occurred. More serious scratches are usually caused through a collision but it will be up to an adjuster to determine that.

Do-it-Yourself Repair

If you’re up to repairing your own vehicle scratches, there are numerous sources of information on and offline with detailed repair tips. So, if an insurance claim is hard to determine, the DIY route for repair may be the way to go.

Scratch damage varies as well as the costs to repair them. Once you have a valid insurance claim or simply need to repair scratches quickly and aren’t covered by insurance, it’s best to get a few estimates as to the cost of repairs. If you’re unsure as to what to do about those nasty scratches, complete the online contact form and an expert will get back to you with the answers you need to make a decision.