Category: Accident

Should I Get Multiple Estimates for Car Repairs?

After your car has been damaged in an accident, you may believe that you are required to get three or more estimates. Your insurance company may then require you to go to the shop that gives you the lowest estimate. Sometimes the auto body shop and the insurance company have worked out deals where they use cheaper products in order to save the insurance company money. The fact is, in New Jersey, you have the right to take your car to the shop you choose regardless of which offers the lowest price. There are situations when getting multiple estimates may be helpful and these tips can help you determine if it is necessary.

When to Get Multiple Estimates

If you don’t have a relationship with an auto body shop, getting more than one estimate is not necessarily a bad thing. However, there is no need to get three or four estimates in order to get an average cost to repair your car. In fact, getting too many estimates could delay getting your car repaired and will take up a significant amount of your time. One reason to get an additional estimate may be because the first estimate you got seems excessively high or extremely low. In that case, you may want to get what is essentially a second opinion.

What is an Estimate?

An estimate is simply a rough total of what the auto shop believes it will cost to fix your car without disassembling the vehicle completely. The best way to describe an estimate is as a “best guess.” Estimates are notoriously inaccurate at predicting the actual final cost. When you get more than one estimate, each shop uses a different method for determining the cost of repairs. One may provide a quote that covers fixing a damaged part while another may include total replacement of the part. In addition, the lowest estimate is not necessarily the best option as the shop may use inferior parts, may not take the steps to match paint properly or may cut corners to get the repair completed at the low price.

Other Factors

A good repair estimate should factor in the quality of the paint as well as good parts. It should include the number of hours it will take to get your car fixed right the first time. It should provide a general idea of what it will take to get your car back on the road. However, a technician cannot accurately predict the cost of a repair until they begin working on it. Additional damage could be discovered after they remove body panels and other damaged parts. At that time, they should contact you to let you know of any additional parts or labor that will be required. You can then notify your insurance company who may agree to the higher cost of the repair if the shop can demonstrate the additional costs are necessary.

OEM Parts

Original Equipment Parts (OEM) are those that were used in your vehicle by the manufacturer. There are cases when a repair shop will have to use non-OEM parts. If your car is older, OEM parts may no longer be available and, in some cases, there is very little difference between OEM and non-OEM parts. In New Jersey, the repair shop must list non-OEM parts as part of the estimate. In addition, the non-OEM part must be sufficiently and permanently identified on the part. It must also be visible after the part is installed if at all possible. Non-OEM parts must be at least equal to OEM parts and must come with a warranty of reasonable duration and coverage.

Choosing the Right Shop

It may be tempting to simply take your car to a chain auto body repair recommended by the insurance company. Keep in mind that many insurance companies have negotiated lower prices with some of these shops who often use lower quality parts and cheaper paints in order to get your car fixed faster and at less cost. This boosts the bottom line of the insurance company but provides you with a repair that may be inferior to a local body shop.

When you bring your car into Elmer’s Auto Body for an estimate, we work as hard as possible to give you a repair cost that will be as close as possible to the final bill. We will inspect your car to be sure that when you leave our shop, you will be driving in the safest car possible. If your car has been damaged in a collision, schedule an appointment today with Elmer’s Auto Body by calling or filling out the easy online form.

Facts vs Myth: DIY Ways On How To Get Dents Out Of Your Car

Car dents can seem to appear from nowhere. In some cases, you know what happened, like when your son opened the back door too fast and hit the parking meter on the sidewalk or your daughter rode her bicycle into the driver’s side door when she wasn’t paying attention. But what about that mysterious ding on the front fender that wasn’t there when you went into the mall? Did a grocery cart roll into the back door last week? Who sat on the hood and made the indent near the grill? A quick search online will give you many options for fixing dents themselves. Learn whether these tips are fact or fiction.

Hair Dryer and Compressed Air

One method described online is describes using a hair dryer to heat up the dent until it is too hot to touch and then quickly cooling it with compressed air. This method will not work on modern cars as most use a combination of metal and plastic on side panels and bumpers. A hair dryer cannot create enough heat to soften the metal and allow it to pop into place.

Wet Sponge and Plunger

According to online sources, you can drench the dent with a wet sponge soaked with water then use a cup plunger over the dent and apply pressure to pop the dent. Surprisingly, this method actually works on rounded dents and smaller dings. Applying a small amount of heat to the metal and then using the plunger may also work.

Suction Tools

Small suction tools can be purchased online for under $10 but some online sources claim you can use almost any type of suction tool, including a GoPro camera mount. This process works similar to the plunger, suggesting that you wet the surface and apply the tool. Like the plunger tip, this process can also work for small dents or dings.

Dry Ice

Internet sources claim that dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide, can be used to fix a dent. Heat the dent until it is too hot to touch. Protect your hands with gloves and wrap the dry ice in a towel. Rub the dry ice on the dent for about 15 minutes and the dent will pop into place. This is false information. Even if the dent appears to improve, as soon as the area returns to the outside temperature, it will reappear again.

Boiling Water

If you have discovered a dent in your plastic bumper, one internet method suggests pouring boiling water on the dent and surrounding area. You then reach under the bumper and push the dent out with your hands. This method actually works as the hot water softens the plastic so it can be pushed back into place.

The bottom line is that, although you may be able to repair a small dent yourself, some of these methods can actually cause more damage to your car. The surface can be damaged and mini creases can appear in the area surrounding the dent. Instead, schedule an appointment with Elmer’s Auto Body by calling or filling out the easy form online to have your dent repaired professionally and correctly.

What Happens When My Airbags Deploy?

Most modern cars are equipped with airbags and many have them located throughout the car. An airbag is known as a passive restraint as they deploy without the driver or passenger having to do anything. This is unlike a seatbelt that must be buckled by the person in the seat. Some cars do have a disarming mechanism for safety reasons. Airbags can be dangerous for small children so if you cannot put a child in the backseat, you may want to deactivate the airbag temporarily.

How Do Airbags Work?

An airbag is more than just the part that deploys. It is an entire system of sensors, a control module and the airbag itself. Sensors are located in various places in your vehicle that are commonly compromised when you have an accident. The sensors also monitor wheel speed sensors and data from the accelerometers plus other areas of the car. If the sensors receive certain information, they tell the airbag to deploy.

Where are the Airbags?

Airbags can be located in the dash, steering wheel, seats, door frames and other areas of the car. Initiator devices light chemical propellants to deploy the airbag when the sensors receive certain signals. When the propellant is ignited, the bag fills with nitrogen gas to force it from where it is stored. The entire process from ignition to deflation of the airbag can take less than 30 seconds. Once your airbag has deployed once, it must be replaced as all of the propellant is used to inflate the bag one time.

How Safe Are Airbags?

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, airbags deployed approximately 3.3 million times between 1990 and 2000. NHTSA estimated that more than 6,000 lives were saved by the deployment of airbags. However, they are activated by a chemical explosion and they inflate very fast. There have been instances where people were injured or killed by airbags, especially small children. In the time studied by NHTSA, 175 people died and many injured by airbag deployment. For this reason, children under the age of 13 should not be placed in the front seat of a car with an airbag. Passengers should not place their feet on the dash nor should they place objects between them and the airbag.

Changes in Airbag Technology

Airbags were first patented in 1951 but they did not become standard in vehicles in the United States until 1985. Although the basic principle is the same as it was in 1985, airbag technology has been refined. Today, there are “smart airbags” that inflate with less force if conditions are right, making them safer than older models. Newer systems also include a variety of airbags in other areas of the car to add more injury protection.

If your car has been in a collision, contact Elmer’s Auto Body today by calling or filling out the easy form to schedule an appointment.

I Hit A Deer. What Happens Now?

If you have ever had to drive on rural roads, you know that the risk of encountering deer can be pretty high. In fact, more than 1.5 million accidents in the United States are due to someone hitting a deer, sending over 10,000 people to the hospital and killing more than 100 each year.

Avoiding Deer

When driving, if you see a deer on the side of the road, slow down as much as possible. It is very rare that one deer is alone as they usually travel in herds. If one crosses the road, stop and look carefully as others may follow quickly behind. This is especially true if the deer is female as she may have a young doe with her. Deer are nocturnal so it is important to pay more attention at night. This also makes them more difficult to see on dark country roads.

If You Cannot Avoid the Deer

One common myth is that you should speed up so that the hood of your car tilts upward but this is extremely dangerous. If a deer breaks through your windshield, its hooves can kill you or a passenger. Most injuries and fatalities are caused by drivers who try to take evasive action. Apply your brakes firmly, hold the steering wheel and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop as soon as you can. Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or veer off the road where you risk rolling your car or hitting a tree.

If the Deer is Injured

Unless you are absolutely certain the deer is dead, don’t try to move it. Deer have very powerful legs and, if they are injured, will be frightened if you come close. If they kick you, it is possible you will be lying in the road as well. If the deer is moving and you can move your car, place it in front of oncoming traffic with the hazard lights flashing. This will keep other cars from hitting the deer in the road. Call 911. The police will notify the proper authorities to remove the deer and you will receive a police report for insurance purposes.

Can I Keep the Carcass?

If it is not deer season, you must request permission to keep the deer carcass for its meat. Outside of hunting season, contact the authorities even if your car is not damaged. You will need to take it to a processor fairly quickly to be sure the meat remains edible.

If you have been in an accident involving a deer and your vehicle has sustained damage, contact Elmer’s Auto Body today. We will work to get your car back on the road as fast as possible. Schedule an appointment by calling or filling out the easy online form.

Icy Death from Above – What Do I Do if Hail Hits Me?

Hail is one of the most destructive common natural disasters around. Sure, things like tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning, and wildfires wreak more havoc, they’re not nearly as common. Hail isn’t a difficult thing for the atmosphere to make – if you live in an area with frequent precipitation, at any point in the year, you run the risk of these destructive balls of ice plummeting from the sky.
At the speed, hail falls, and with the density of most hailstones, it may as well be a rain of boulders. They can severely damage roads, power lines, vehicles, and of course, buildings. Hail is, in fact, second only to conventional accidents, in leading causes of automotive damage.

When this happens, it can seem positively disastrous. It’s easy to panic, but that’s not a good idea. Below, we’ll talk about the steps you should immediately take, and answer some frequently asked questions about the concepts involved. Take a deep breath, everything will work out if you take this one step at a time.

Immediate Response to Hail Damage

Insurance – The first thing you should do is contact your auto insurance provider, as is always the case with vehicle damage. Find out if hail damage is covered, and to what extent. This will determine the claim you can file. Your agent can help you with your claim if you’re uncertain where, to begin with this – it’s ok, that’s their job.
Clean Up – Clean your vehicle’s exterior thoroughly, removing debris, dust or other foreign matter.
Valuation – Next, have the damage thoroughly examined and appraised by either your insurance provider, a field inspector, or by a company specializing in this sort of valuation.
Schedule your repairs right away, even if you’ve not settled a claim with your insurance provider yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a hail damage estimate take?

Between 30-45 minutes on average. Assessors follow a specific set of procedures, steps and criteria that’s pretty universal, regardless their employer.

Why do I need to clean the car first?

Assessors need to be able to determine the actual damage to the panels and paint which the hail has caused. With flakes of paint, debris or dirt present, it can be difficult to properly measure this.

What is pre-loss condition?

Assessors/inspectors will make note of damage that was present before the hail, which will not be factored in claims or repair cost assessments.

Why am I being asked supplemental questions?

Inspectors may have additional questions to clarify the conditions the vehicle usually exists within, usage of the vehicle, previous repairs made, etc.

What’s paintless dent repair (PDR)?

In the event that the paint isn’t damaged, modern techniques can remove the dents without damaging the paint, or replacing it.

What’s conventional body repair?

This generally involves replacing damages panels, which also involves painting to match the remainder of the body.

To learn more about how to schedule dent repairs, have further questions answers/concepts demystified, or to get a no-obligation assessment of existing hail damage, call us today or fill out our contact form. Don’t wait for this damage to get worse!

Common Types Of Fraud In Collision Repair

Collision repair in general can be a harrying experience, but when fraud is involved, the situation is ramped up for both the vehicle owner, the insurer and anyone else involved in the repair process. Though the majority of collision repair shops operate by the book and utilize honorable business practices, there are those few shops that exploit and manipulate unsuspecting customers.

The use of a disreputable shop can lead to insurance fraud. In order to avoid that dilemma, customers should be made aware of how the collision repair process is supposed to work. Avoiding scams at all costs and protecting customers are the goals of any insurer. When consumers are armed with the right information, they can make informed decisions before they are faced with collision costs.

Shop Fraud Tactics

Here is a listing of the different fraud tactics and hazards that involve collision repair. They should be of benefit in helping customers avoid any kind of trap before seeking advice and repair estimates.

Estimates for Damages

Be on the lookout for damage estimates that seem beyond what would be considered normal. A less credible shop will try to pad costs and add considerably more in the way of materials, parts and labor to a repair bill. They’re banking on a customer either not being aware of cost breakdowns as well as being in a hurry to get their vehicle repaired. Such shops are also hoping that the customer and their insurer will not detect anything out of the ordinary with an estimate. Watching for services that were never completed and parts and materials that were not necessary, or ever installed, are areas that can be easily manipulated by a dishonest shop. Review the estimate and question any procedure that seems fishy or out of the ordinary.

Hidden Deductibles

A number of repair shops will offer their customers the cost-free incentive of hiding or burying insurance deductibles within repair expenses, which leads to an insurance company picking up the tab for the total bill, while supposedly benefiting the customer with a free pass for costs. While this may be a temptation to vehicle owners in need of a less expensive way out of repair costs, they need to realize that the dishonesty of the repair shop goes beyond just charging the insurance company full cost. Charges for parts and other items made to the insurance company will be top dollar, while the vehicle owner will likely get replacement parts that are inferior, old or simply junk. It is definitely a risk to agree to an offer that buries costs that come out of your insurance carrier’s pocket and eventually yours.

Airbag Deception

In the case of most collisions, an airbag or airbags will likely have deployed, which means replacement. Fraudulent shop owners will try to replace an airbag with one that has been stolen or used, plus they will have gotten the airbag for next to nothing. Some shops will simply turn around and charge the insurance company with the full price of a new airbag. This is one devious and dangerous practice.

In order to inflate an estimate, dishonest shops will also try to deceive customers and insurers through the use of an already opened and expanded airbag that has been placed in the steering wheel area of a vehicle. This practice will lead to, once again, charging an insurance company the full price of a new airbag that is added into an estimate.

All of these tactics with airbags are deceitful and dishonest and can cause dangerous occurrences down the road. To avoid these kinds of crooked dealings with airbags, always insist on examining any packaged airbag or looking at the original invoice from a reputable airbag manufacturer. Also, both the customer and the insurance agent should thoroughly scrutinize estimates for airbag issues as well as watch for anything that seems suspicious or incorrect.

Fraud Avoidance

Insurers need to encourage their customers to look beyond repair shops and deals that seem too good to be true. If a repair shop lacks organization and is poorly kept, it is probably wise to go on to another shop that is professional and well organized. In addition, customers should be advised of the importance of requesting an estimate before any work is initiated. If questions arise concerning a repair bill, a customer needs to be reassured that their insurance agent is a constant companion concerning estimate issues. Finally, policy holders should be encouraged to only deal with ASE accredited repair shops and other reputable businesses.

There are always going to be questions concerning fraud and dealings with any kind of repair work. Seeking guidance through a reputable shop is the safe way to approach repairs without being mislead or scammed. If you need more answers concerning collision repair, complete the online contact form, and an experienced agent will get back to you with the answers you need to safely and honestly repair your vehicle.