If your vehicle is a "total loss", then skip this paragraph (because it does not apply to you). But,
if your vehicle will be repaired, then take the "repair estimate" that
the "appraiser" gave you (and your vehicle) to any repair shop that you want do to the repair work. If the repair shop agrees to do the repair work (and it will), then the repair shop will (must) do all of the work listed on the "repair estimate" for the amount of money that the insurance company indicates that it will pay for all of the work listed on the "repair estimate". You are not
required to go to three repair shops and get three different estimates
of the costs of the repairs like you were back in the old days. You
are also not required to take your vehicle to the repair shop
that the insurance company tells you to go to (which does the work for
the insurance company for less money than the insurance company is
really obligated to pay for those repairs). The insurance company
is not obligated to pay for repairs of damage or mechanical trouble
that was not actually caused by the accident. Unless you actually prove that the damage or mechanical trouble was caused by the accident, the insurance company is not obligated to pay to repair it. The insurance company does not
have to prove that the damage or mechanical trouble was not actually
caused by the accident to avoid paying for repairs. But if, during the
process of making the repairs, the people at the repair shop find
additional vehicle damage or mechanical trouble that they believe was
actually caused by the accident which was not originally written down
on the "appraiser's" original "repair estimate," then the repair shop
(not you) will ask the "appraiser" to come back to the repair shop,
inspect your vehicle (again), and do a "supplemental" (second) estimate
of any additional repair work that might be necessary. If the
"appraiser" agrees with the repair shop (that the original "repair
estimate" was incomplete), then the "appraiser" will direct the
insurance company to send a "supplemental" (second) check to the repair
shop to pay for those additional repairs. Because they receive all of
the extra money that the insurance company pays for supplemental
(extra) repairs, the people at the repair shop will carefully inspect
every part of your vehicle in hopes of finding any undiscovered damage
not written down on the original "repair estimate" in order to justify
doing supplemental (extra) repairs (and getting supplemental (extra)
repair money). When it comes to repairs, you and the repair shop are
on the same side. You and the repair shop both want as much repair
work done as possible. The repair shop will deal direct with the
insurance company on matters relating to their payment and on matters
relating to any disputes about "supplemental" (extra) repairs. You should stay out of the dealings between the repair shop and the insurance company.
You have nothing to gain by becoming involved in those matters. You do
not get any of the repair shop's money. So, the money is not yours to
argue about. And the people at the repair shop are a lot better at
getting "supplemental" (extra) repair work approved and paid for than
you are.
For more information about Vehicles Involved In An Accident in Orlando contact Hanson &
Hanson, P.A. today at 1-800-426-7662 to schedule your free initial
consultation. More information about Orlando Auto Accidents can be
found in the practice areas section of our website.
