Collision Repair Culver City
Insurance claims are a crucial part of the insurance industry which involves the process of filing and processing insurance claims. The claim process starts when an insurance company is made aware of a loss that occurred under the terms and conditions of their policy, they then begin to investigate these claims to determine whether they are legitimate or fraudulent.
Insurance claims can be a complicated issue, but the process doesn’t have to be. Sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes it can be difficult because of a variety of reasons, from the extensive paperwork to not being able to identify the cause of an accident.
Here are all of the steps that are involved in the process of filing for insurance claims so you know what you’re up against.
Call your insurance company
Call your insurance company as soon as you’re able to, because the sooner you start, the sooner you can get moving. The phone number that comes with your insurance statement is the easiest way to contact them, but if it’s not listed there, call their customer service department. They may be more willing to help if you explain your situation. No matter what happens after this point, phone calls are vital! Sometimes a simple phone call can help solve problems.
Discuss the claim with the adjuster
Once you’ve successfully gotten in touch with your insurance company and your chosen auto body shop has provided you with an estimate, discuss your situation with an adjuster. They are the people who will help you through everything and act as an intermediary between you and the insurance company’s management.
They are essentially a middle man that helps figure out why something happened, who is at fault, how much it’ll cost to fix the damage from the accident, and whether or not the claim should be denied or paid.
Collect the things you need to complete your claim
Your insurance company will inform you of the forms that you’ll need to fill out to file your claim and how to go about doing so. It’s a good idea to collect these as soon as possible and fill them out as quickly as possible because this will make your insurance company more inclined to pay the amount that is being asked of them.
Update your insurance company with any changes
Make sure you update your insurance company with any changes such as additional costs for damage seen after the estimate has been provided.
Wait for a response from the insurance company
In most cases, your insurance company will communicate directly with the insurance company. Once the estimate has been approved, the body shop will start the work on the damage vehicle.
Make sure you attach the necessary documents to process your claim successfully.
How Direct Programs Work
A Direct Repair Program is a type of strategic partnership between insurance companies and an auto body shop. This program is meant to reduce customer inconvenience, shorten wait times and provide a better customer experience.
A Direct Repair Program provides the insurance company with a list of authorized and trained auto body shop where customers can take the vehicle for repair. The goal is to provide customers with convenience and peace of mind so they are not inconvenienced waiting for repairs that would have otherwise been needed.
Components of direct repair programs
The auto body shop is selected by a number of criteria and is often chosen by the insurance company based on their knowledge, qualification, and experience in the industry.
Some qualifications to be a Direct Repair Program include being National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified, carrying liability insurance, clear criminal record, And a business license. Other types of qualifications can include proper equipment and tools for repairs made to vehicles, experienced staff as well as a local state or national presence.
Benefits of the program
The program will allow insurance companies to work with an auto body shop to provide totaled cars with a repair job and other benefits. The program helps the insurer by lowering their costs while helping the shop by providing them with more customers.
Direct Repair Programs are designed to help insurance companies. They try to help insurers negotiate prices, reduce administrative costs and increase customer service satisfaction.
Not under DRP?
If you already have a specific body shop in mind such as MBS: Manuel’s Body Shop in Culver City, you don’t need to go through a DRP.
All you need to do is contact the body and inform the insurance company. These parties will coordinate with each other of your behalf.
Note: Your insurance cannot dictate where the vehicle will be repaired. You are free to choose your auto body shop.
All CustomerS
Manuel’s Body Shop in Culver City caters to both DRP and Non-DRP programs and we have over 51 years of experience with auto body work.
We offer free estimates on any collision repairs, auto repairs, paint work, and more.