Certified Collision Center

If your car was involved in an accident that caused major damage to your car, your car may be totaled. Totaling a car is a term an insurance company uses when they are not going to pay to repair the car, and instead, are going to pay you the cash value of your car. There are a lot of misconceptions out there pertaining to totaling a car and how an insurance company decides whether or not to total a car. Here are the factors that are looked at when deciding whether or not to total a vehicle after an accident. 

Actual Cash Value Versus Cost of Repairs

One of the first things that are looked at when deciding whether to total a car is what the actual cash value of the car was pre-accident and what the cost of repairs are post-accident. Checking the Kelly Blue Book value of your car will give you a good idea as to what the actual cash value of your car was pre-accident. This is not the same as the actual cost to replace your car, which is where many people get confused. In the state of California, if repairs plus the scrap value of your car exceed the actual cash value of your car, your car will be totaled. 

If Your Car Can Be Made Safe Again

Another element that is looked at when deciding whether to total a car or not is whether the car can be made safe again. No amount of repairs can fix certain types of damage, including extensive damage to the structure of the car. This is often why cars that have had their airbags deployed are totaled. It is hard to repair a car after airbags have been deployed and it is unsafe to send them back on the road if the work is not completed. If the car is so damaged that it can not be made safe, your car will be totaled, regardless of the cost of repair or the value of your car. 

State Regulations Require the Car to Be Totaled

The state of California has specific regulations in regards to when a car should be totaled. Many of these regulations have to do with safety and environmental factors. There are specific types of damage that the state will not allow to be fixed on an automobile. If your car sustains this type of damage, the state requires that the vehicle be totaled, instead of being repaired. The insurance company has no choice but to total a car out due to state regulations if this occurs. 

If your car has been involved in a car accident, you need to bring your vehicle to an autobody repair shop, such as us here at Certified Collision Center Auto Body. We can help determine what repairs your car needs and prepare an estimate for an auto insurance company. By law, you are allowed to pick any licensed autobody repair center you want to complete work on your car. Turn to us to help you get your car back to its pre-accident condition. 

If your car is involved in a car accident, and there is significant damage, totaled is a word that you may hear the insurance company or an autobody repair shop say. Learning what the word means, how it may affect your auto body repair and who determines if a car is damaged helps you to better understand more about this term and it can come into play following a car accident. 

What Does It Mean For a Car to Be Totaled? 

The simplest explanation for a totaled car is that a car needs more in repairs than it is worth. For example, if a car is only worth $5,000 and it needs $7,500 in repairs, it is totaled. However, insurance companies all have their own definition for a car to be totaled. Most companies use a percentage of the value of the car, typically 70 to 85 percent. If the repairs are below the value of the car, but above the percentage value that the insurance company uses, the insurance company still totals the car. For example, if a car is worth $10,000, but repairs are $8,500, the insurance company may still total the car because you are at the insurance company’s stated value limit. 

Who Determines If a Car Is Totaled? 

Ultimately, it is up to the insurance company to make a final call as to whether or not a vehicle is totaled. If a vehicle is deemed totaled and you do not agree, you do have the option to get second opinions or dispute the insurance companies’ findings. 

How Does an Insurance Company Determine If a Car Is Totaled? 

There are a few different ways that an insurance company may determine if a car is totaled. First, some insurance companies may send an adjuster out to inspect your vehicle. The inspector may be looking at the types of damage and the amount of damage, and based on that assessment, they may total a car. Secondly, an insurance company may defer to an auto repair shop. They may send you to your preferred repair shop to obtain an estimate. The auto body repair shop will inspect your vehicle and put together an estimate. The insurance company can then use the amount on the estimate to justify totaling the car or paying out the repairs. 

After your car has been involved in an accident, you need to bring it to a trusted and respected autobody repair shop. Here at Certified Collision Center Auto Body, we can help you with all of your automotive body repairs, ranging from minor scratches to large deep dents. Call us today to schedule your appointment today. 

Damage to an automobile frame necessitates assistance from an autobody repair shop staffed by experienced collision specialists.  The subtleties of your vehicle’s frame are particularly important.  If your frame is not properly repaired after your collision, you will experience even more problems moving forward.  When in doubt, opt for professional autobody repair at our trusted autobody repair shop.

The Basics of Auto Frame Repair

Though auto frame repair might seem invasive, it is necessary if your vehicle endures considerable damage.  Whether the damage to the frame is the result of a collision or extensive exposure to harsh conditions such as hailstorms or sleet, repair will be necessary to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive.  Auto frame repair is necessary for damage that extends beyond the paint.  In short, if we can’t bang out a dent, there is a good chance the frame will have to be addressed. 

If you were to leave your damaged frame in place, it would cause swaying that makes driving unsafe for you as well as everyone in your vehicle and those on the road around you.  Auto swaying can even cause significant transmission problems as well.  Continue driving with sway damage and you will find vibrations worsen, eventually making the driving experience uncomfortable and unsafe.

Automotive Frame Repair is Nothing to Fear

There is a common misconception that auto frame repair is egregiously expensive and involves destructing most of the vehicle.  The techniques used for car frame repair are wide-ranging.  The manner in which the frame is damaged ultimately determines the optimal technique for repair.  Furthermore, the type of damage, be it from hail, a collision or another source, also shapes the resulting repair.  Do not trust anyone but an OEM-certified technician to perform this important repair work.  If necessary, our team will complete several repair steps to return your vehicle’s frame to normal.  However, there is a chance a single procedure will suffice.

Examples of Auto Frame Repairs

Repairing the vehicle’s frame is usually centered on repairing the body of the vehicle.  This work might include welding the frame back into a cohesive unit or replacing one of the quarter panels.  If any of the visible parts of the vehicle are damaged, auto body painting will also be necessary.  Paintless dent repair rectifies minor denting along the exterior when the majority of the damage occurs along the undercarriage. 

Auto Frame Repair Might be Covered by Insurance

Your vehicle’s frame repair might not cost you much at all.  Take a look at your auto insurance coverage and you might find the frame repair cost is covered by the collision or liability coverage.  Though the specific level of such coverage varies from one policyholder to the next, there is a good chance you will only have to pay a small percentage of the total repair cost out of pocket.

Certified Collision Center is on Your Side

We empathize with every driver involved in a collision.  Our team provides expert assistance during such difficult times in the form of our revered professional auto repair service.  If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, be proactive by reaching out to us for assistance.  You can contact our auto body repair team by phone at (209) 836-4893.  You can also reach our collision specialists online through our contact form.

An automobile collision has the potential to upend your life to the point that you are in considerable physical pain, cannot work and face a personal injury lawsuit.  You can do your part to facilitate as smooth of a transition as possible from the accident back to your normal life by following specific protocols.  Print the collision guide detailed below and keep a copy in your car as well as your wallet or purse for quick and easy access should you end up in an accident. 

Step 1: Stop and Remain Calm

Do not attempt to drive away from the accident site assuming you can escape potential punishment.   Even if your negligence contributed to the accident, there is still a chance you will receive a payout from your insurance provider.  Do your best to maintain a level head.  Pull over to the side of the road, turn on your emergency flashers and turn off your vehicle. 

Step 2: Be Civil When Collecting Information

Do not berate the other driver(s) for the collision.  Be kind and civil throughout the interaction.  Do not admit fault or state you are sorry.  Use your smartphone or pen and paper to write down the names, addresses, contact information, insurance information and vehicle information of those involved in the collision.

Step 3: Document the Collision

Take pictures of your vehicle with your smartphone.  Be sure to take some snapshots of the damage to other vehicles as well.  Even taking pictures of the intersection where the accident occurred has the potential to help your case.  If you have visible injuries, take pictures of them as well.  The more details of the accident that you document, the better your chances are of obtaining a large settlement or court award.

Step 4: Contact the Police and Your Insurance Provider

Now that you have documented the accident, reach out to the police.  The police will also document the accident scene and create a formal police report.  Reach out to your auto insurance provider while waiting for the police to arrive.

Step 5: Obtain Medical Attention

The injuries you suffer after your collision might not be visible or felt to their full degree until hours or even days after this unfortunate incident.  Meet with a doctor to document your specific injuries and you will have done your part to prove there is a legitimate causal relationship between the accident and your injuries, pain and suffering.  If you feel any additional pains arise after this initial appointment, schedule another appointment so your doctor can formally document those latent injuries as well.

Step 6: Entrust Only the Best to Repair Your Vehicle

You spent good money on your automobile.  There is no sense in letting anyone but the best perform the necessary repair.  Have our expert auto repair technicians repair the damage and it won’t be long until you are back on the road living life to the fullest once again.

Contact Certified Collision Center Today

Our autobody repair team is here to help after your collision.  Give us a call at (209) 836-4893 or contact us online to find out more about how our autobody repair shop can help.

Pay close attention to roads the next time you head out for work, an errand or another reason.  If you look close enough while driving at a moderate or low speed, you will likely spot a considerable amount of debris on and near driving lanes.  This debris can cause significant vehicle damage if it ends up in the path of traffic.  You have the power to avoid the majority of such debris with careful driving.  Here’s how to do it.

1. Don’t Tailgate!

Think back to the last time someone tailgated you.  You were likely stressed and worried about an accident.  You have the power to prevent causing similar stress to others by maintaining several car lengths between your vehicle and the one ahead of you.  Keep in mind, drivers ahead of you might quickly brake to avoid a wayward animal or debris in the lane ahead. 

Maintain a safe driving distance of at least three vehicles between your car and the one ahead of you and you will have done your part to prevent an accident stemming from tailgating.  If you were to tailgate the vehicle ahead of you, there is a chance you would slam into it or the debris ahead.  Leave ample space and you will have that much more time to react.

2. Avoid Making Sharp Turns

Sharp turning might seem like the best way to avoid debris yet this approach has the potential to backfire.  If you were to sharply turn your vehicle to avoid hitting debris, there is a chance you would lose control and slam into another vehicle, a tree or a light pole.  Drive cautiously, resist the temptation to turn overly sharply when confronted with debris and you just might escape vehicle damage.

3. Gently Brake

Your first thought upon seeing debris on the road ahead is likely to slam on the brakes so you can slow down and veer to the side or change lanes.  However, changing lanes to avoid road debris is a mistake that can lead to even costlier damage.  If the driver behind you does not have enough time to reach a full stop after you slam on your brakes, you will be rear-ended, possibly causing more damage and a larger car repair bill than would have occurred had you hit the debris.

4. Remain Hyper-Alert When Behind the Wheel

Driving is probably the most significant risk you take on a daily basis.  Do not get behind the wheel if you are sleep-deprived or inebriated.  If necessary, down a cup of coffee so you are alert while driving.  Heightened awareness significantly decreases the chances of a collision with on-road debris.  So don’t fall into the trap of attempting to multi-task while behind the wheel.  Though driving can be a bit boring, your entire focus should be on the road at all times.

Contact Certified Collision Center Auto Body

Our autobody repair shop is here for you after a collision with debris, vehicles, stationary objects and everything else.  Contact us at (209) 836-4893 to get an estimate for your vehicle’s repair.  You can also reach out an autobody repair shop on the web by completing our contact form.

Parking lot dings are a fact of life.  However, you have the power to minimize the number of automotive dings in these crowded spaces by being proactive.  Strategically approach parking your vehicle in parking lots and other busy areas and you just might go a decade or even longer without a single ding.  Here’s how to do it.

1. Park far Away From the Entrance

If you are like most people, you don’t get enough exercise.  Life is hectic, time is limited and exercise requires a considerable amount of energy.  You can kill two birds with one stone by parking far away from other vehicles in parking lots.  Park your vehicle in a relatively open space within the parking lot, far from vehicles and shopping carts.  This considerable distance away from the store or other venue provides an opportunity to walk to the store entrance.  Walk quickly or even jog your way to the entrance and you will get some exercise while minimizing the chances of a vehicle ding.

2. Be Careful When Pulling in and Out

Entering and exiting the parking lot has the potential to be somewhat challenging simply because there are plenty of vehicles moving in and out of these relatively cramped entranceways/exits.  Exercise caution when pulling in and out of all parking lots, reduce your speed and try to park far away from other vehicles to make exiting that much easier.

3. Provide Other Vehicles With Ample Space

Leave enough room in front of and around your vehicle for other drivers to maneuver in/out of their respective parking spaces and they won’t be nearly as likely to bump into your vehicle.  So be mindful of parking space lines.  Double-check to ensure you are within the lines and those around you will have enough room to avoid dinging your car.

4. Park Away From Shopping Cart Corrals

It is a mistake to park anywhere near shopping cart corrals.  Cart retrievers are lowly paid, overworked and might not actually care whether one or several carts ding your vehicle.  Furthermore, some shoppers refuse to put their carts all the way into the corral, meaning there is a chance a strong gust of wind will blow one or several carts toward your nearby vehicle.

5. Carefully Open Your Door

Even if you park within the designated parking spot lines, you might not have much space to open your door, especially if the vehicle adjacent to your door is a large sport utility vehicle.  Add in the fact that a strong gust of wind can cause your door to slam into the vehicle next to yours and there is even more reason to hold on tight when opening your door.  Slow down, take your time, be mindful and keep a tight grip on your door as you depart your vehicle.

Contact Certified Collision Center Autobody Repair Today

If your vehicle has damage from a parking lot accident with a wayward shopping cart or another vehicle, don’t panic.  Reach out to our autobody repair shop for collision repair.  You can contact our autobody repair specialists by dialing (209) 836-4893.  If you prefer to reach us online, we invite you to fill out our convenient online contact form.