Collision Repair in Washington, PA

So… you’ve had an accident and need a collision repair shop in Pennsylvania.

Accidents are a huge pain in the butt. It’s never a good thing… EVER. 

If you have found yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing collision repair already or not, there are few things that you should know to get your vehicle back on the road.

You will need to file a claim:

If you are the insured (you are at fault, or your insurance company will be paying the claim) You will need to contact your insurance company.

The body shop cannot file the claim for you. We can be there for you through the process but your insurance company will need to speak with you about the accident at some point.

If you are the claimant (you are not at fault) then you will need to speak with the insured’s (the person whose insurance company will be paying the claim) insurance company.

Dealing with the insurance company’s appraiser:

In most instances, the insurance company will send its own appraiser to determine how much the damages will cost.
A good appraiser should identify all damage done to your vehicle, but he or she cannot write unseen or hidden items. If hidden damage is found during the collision repair, we will work with the appraiser to address these additional repairs.
It’s a good idea to ask your appraiser about hidden damage and what the process is for those repairs.  Keep in mind, that all damages must be able to be proved to be related to your current claim/accident. Insurance companies will not pay for unrelated damages or collision repairs.

A word about “Photo Claims” for Collision Repair Work:

A photo claim is when the insurance company will ask you to take photos of the damage and send them to them either via email or with an app that they will have you download to your smartphone.
They will attempt to write an estimate from the photos that you send them. These estimates are typically very inaccurate.
Do not worry, though. Once you bring the vehicle in for the repairs, we will create a more accurate estimate (called a “supplement”) of the damages.  We will work directly with the insurance company to return your vehicle to pre-accident condition, regardless of what the initial estimate was.

You Choose the Collision Repair Shop!

Insurance companies often have relationships with certain collision centers and this is where they typically send one of their policyholders after a collision. This is called “steering” and it is completely ILLEGAL!  Only the owner of the vehicle can decide where to get his or her vehicle repaired.

Do not let your agent, claim rep, or adjuster pressure you to take your vehicle to one of “their shops”. There is usually no benefit to you to go to an insurance company’s repair facility. It is, however, quite advantageous for the insurance company.

Minor Collision Damage may be more serious than you think

Be aware that even a minor accident could cause extensive damage. Some telltale signs are any warning lights you might see on the dashboard, the vehicle not handling properly when driving and any noticeable changes in the gaps around the body panels.

Sometimes there are no outer signs and it’s only after we have disassembled your vehicle that we will find more extensive damage. You will want to get your vehicle to us as soon as possible after you have had an accident to make sure that you aren’t riding around in a vehicle with damage that may make it unsafe to operate.


Collision Repair: Body Damage

Repairing (straightening) body panels is a highly technical skill that requires years of practice to do effectively. Commercials for products on television that claim a body panel can be popped back into place using a special tool or household item are TOTALLY FALSE.

Although there is paintless dent repair (PDR) techniques, they must be performed by trained technicians who use special tools to gently bend the metal back into shape.  Our technicians have many years of collision repair experience and can return any repairable body panel to pre-accident condition.


Can You Repair My Vehicle Without Using Body Filler?

Sometimes a panel can be repaired without using body filler and without painting.  This is called Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), however, this type of repair can only be used under certain circumstances. If the damage is only a dent with no damage to the paint, then paintless dent repair may be an option.

If the damage to your vehicle requires conventional repair, you should know we straighten damaged panels by working with the metal and not simply filling the dent with body filler.  You should also be aware that today’s cars sometimes come from the factory with body filler in order to hide any imperfections in the metal.


Our Collision Repair Warranty

Sometimes, insurance companies will tell you that if you go to a collision repair shop that is not recommended by them, the work will not be covered under warranty. However, warranties are provided by the collision center, not the insurance company. We warranty our collision work for as long as you own your vehicle!


Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts, Aftermarket Parts, Recycled Parts

Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts (a.k.a. OEM parts) are parts that are made by your vehicle’s manufacturer and are preferred when we need to replace parts on your vehicle. However, most insurance policies are written to allow the use of at least SOME aftermarket parts.
Aftermarket Parts are parts that are made for your vehicle but are not made by your vehicle’s manufacturer and may not be made to the same tolerances as the same OEM part.
Recycled Parts are parts that are taken off of another vehicle in a salvage yard.  They are parts that were originally made for your vehicle and are patented by the manufacturer. Because they are OEM parts, only used, they will usually be a better fit than aftermarket parts. The downside to Recycled Parts is that they may require some refurbishing on our part before they can be used to repair your vehicle.

Is the Car Totaled?

Contrary to popular belief, the amount and nature of the damage are not the deciding factors as to whether or not a vehicle is determined to be a total loss. A vehicle is determined to be a total loss by the insurance company when the cost of collision repair approaches the value of the vehicle.
The body shop cannot “total your car.” An older car will meet the threshold for being a total loss quicker than a newer car. If your car is only a few years old, it will need to be significantly damaged in order for the insurance company to total it.

Will You Make My Car As Good As New?

In the past, a car that had been in an accident was never the same after a collision repair. With today’s new techniques, vehicles can be returned to their original condition after a collision as long as repairs are done correctly.
Today’s collision repairs give your car the same sound structure, functionality and appearance as it had before the collision. We are committed to returning your vehicle to pre-accident condition!

If your vehicle has been in a collision, schedule an appointment call us today (724-222-3077) or fill out our “Request A Quote” form HERE.
We will get your car back to its original condition and offer a satisfaction guarantee on all work we do.