After an accident, the claim process can be confusing, and many drivers assume they have to use the insurance company’s preferred shop. You don’t. You authorize the repair on your vehicle, and you decide who does it. Your insurance company’s job is to cover the loss under your policy.
What we see insurers do
- Steering. Pressure to use a “preferred” or network shop. Those shops often have agreements with the insurer about cost and speed.
- Aftermarket or used parts. Estimates written with non-OEM parts, even where the manufacturer recommends original parts.
- Leaving off required steps. Scans, calibrations, and procedures the manufacturer requires, left off because you can’t see them.
- Low labor rates and short estimates. An estimate that covers less than the repair takes.
- Diminished value. Even after a good repair, a vehicle with an accident history is worth less. Most insurers won’t bring it up.
How we protect you
- We repair to the right standard. Your manufacturer’s published repair procedures, every time.
- We document everything. Every procedure, requirement, and hidden-damage photo goes in your repair file, so there’s evidence when your insurer pushes back.
- We send supplements. When we find more damage, we send it to your insurer with the documentation.
- Claims help when you need it. When the dispute goes beyond the repair, our partner Collision Claims Advisors can step in for you.
Diminished value, total loss, and claim disputes
State Road is a Collision Claims Advisors (CCA) Network shop. CCA’s certified appraisers work for vehicle owners, not insurance companies:
- Diminished value appraisals when your vehicle is worth less after the accident
- Total loss disputes when the settlement offer is too low
- Appraisal clause support. Many auto policies may include an appraisal clause, a process for resolving a disagreement over the amount of loss.
- Loss of use for rental and transportation costs
- Post-repair inspections to verify a repair was done right
Visit Collision Claims Advisors
Questions about insurance claims
Can my insurance company force me to use their shop?
No. In Ohio, your insurer can recommend a shop but can’t require you to use one. If an adjuster tells you otherwise, ask them to put it in writing, and call us.
Will my insurance company cover OEM parts?
It depends on your policy and your vehicle. Many manufacturers publish position statements on parts. If your vehicle is under warranty or leased, non-OEM parts can create problems. We tell you what the estimate calls for and document what your vehicle needs.
What is a supplement?
An added estimate for damage found during the repair that wasn’t visible at first. Hidden damage is very common, and supplements are a normal part of the process.
Will I pay out of pocket if my insurer won’t cover the full repair?
You’re responsible for your deductible. For covered damage, we work through supplements and documentation to get the claim to reflect the repair your vehicle needs, and we talk with you before any work beyond what’s approved.
What is diminished value, and am I owed it?
It’s the drop in your vehicle’s market value because of its accident history. If you weren’t at fault, you may have a diminished value claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer. Collision Claims Advisors can tell you whether you have one.
Been in an accident? Start here.
We work with every insurance company. We work for you.