Who is Responsible for Fixing your Car after a Car Accident in Arkansas?

Common Questions That Arise When Fixing Your Car After a Car Accident in Arkansas:

What is the State of Your Car?

You need to assess the state of your car immediately after the accident.

Is it safe to drive? How badly do the damages look?

Will this be covered by my insurance or the other driver?

These are some of the things that will come to your mind.

Who will Fix My Car?

The person responsible for the accident is supposed to get your car fixed.

The insurance company covering that car will fix your damages.

After an accident, you should contact the insurance company and request your claim.

If you are unaware of the insurance company, you may find details in the police report.

If they take responsibility for their driver causing the car accident, they will offer a payment of the initial cost of repairs.

In some cases, they may give an initial estimate.

However, this will not be the final repair estimate.

When your car goes to the repair shop, it will be disassembled and any additional costs will be added to the initial estimate.

This will be paid separately, after the payment of initial costs.

Usually, the insurance company has a field estimator who negotiates with the shop regarding all costs of repair.

The second check will be given after the negotiation, to cover the difference.

Can I Only Go to the Repair Shop Chosen by the Insurance Company?

Fixing your car after a car accident in Arkansas often requires you to go to a repair shop, which is favored by the other insurance company.

This may not be a bad option as most of these provide lifetime guaranteed work, as long as you own the car.

Since they provide you with a written guarantee, you may be able to get repairs in other areas and states, if you happen to move.

It is also possible for the insurance company to have your preferred repair shop on their list.

In the end, when your car is being repaired by the other party’s insurance, you are free to choose the repair shop.

What if the Other Party Does Not Have Insurance?

It is not uncommon for drivers to have no insurance.

In case of an accident with an uninsured driver, it is unfair as you may have to use your insurance on an accident that was not your fault.

If your insurance policy covers uninsured motorists or collision coverage, you will have to use this and pay your deductible amount.

If the damage to your car is $2000 and the insurance policy has a $200 deductible, you will have to pay only $200 to fix your car damages.

On the other hand, if you do not have this insurance policy, you may have to pay the entire $2000 to get your car fixed.

Paying the deductible does save you money, but it is not possible in every situation.

Can I Get my Car Fixed Through My Insurance?

Some people prefer getting their car fixed through the at-fault driver’s insurance company and some from their own.

You are free to choose which insurance company you want your car to be fixed by.

When you go through with the other insurance company, your own waives your deductible.

However, if you go through with your own insurance company, you will use collision coverage.

In some cases, if the other party is taking too long to get your car fixed, or denies the liability, you will be left with going through your policy.