You’ve just been in an accident and your vehicle is damaged. What should you do next?
First and foremost, if another vehicle was involved, obtain a police report and the other driver’s insurance information. Even when everyone has the best intentions, unexpected repair costs can lead to hesitation later. A police report helps document the incident and simplifies the insurance claims process.
Your next step is to contact your insurance company. They will ask for details about the accident, whether a police report was filed, and information about any other drivers involved. They may also ask you to take photos of your vehicle for a virtual estimate from an adjuster.
(Photo provided by Russell’s Auto Body)
It’s important to understand that an insurance estimate and a body shop estimate are often very different. Insurance adjusters frequently assess damage remotely, while a body shop estimator inspects the vehicle in person and may identify additional repairs that aren’t visible in photos.
Once you have a claim number, provide it to your body shop. If you’ve received an insurance estimate, sharing that information is helpful because it gives the shop a starting point for communicating with the insurance company.
At Russell’s Auto Body, you can stop by anytime during business hours for an estimate—no appointment necessary. We’ll collect your contact and insurance information, take photos, and assess the damage. The entire process typically takes less than 15 minutes. We’ll then email you a detailed estimate along with photos of your vehicle.
From there, you can decide whether to proceed with repairs or submit the estimate to your insurance company. If you already have a claim number, we can send everything directly to the insurance company and help manage the process, taking some of the stress off your shoulders.
(Photo provided by Russell’s Auto Body)
Insurance companies may recommend a preferred repair shop, but it’s important to know that you have the right to choose where your vehicle is repaired. A preferred shop simply means it has an agreement with the insurance company regarding labor rates and procedures. It does not determine the quality of the repair.
Once repairs are approved, we’ll work directly with the insurance company regarding coverage, parts authorization, and any additional damage discovered during the repair process. In most cases, your primary responsibility will be paying your deductible and forwarding any insurance payments you’ve received. Any additional repair costs related to the accident are typically handled between the shop and the insurance company unless you choose to have unrelated work performed.
If your vehicle is not drivable, it can be towed directly to our shop. We’ll follow the same estimating process and work with your insurance company from there. Just be sure to contact us so we have your insurance and contact information.
While your vehicle is being repaired, check whether your policy includes rental car coverage. Having a rental can make the repair process much more convenient. At Russell’s Auto Body, if you’re renting through Enterprise, you can leave the rental vehicle with us when repairs are complete, and we’ll coordinate its return.
If you have questions at any point in the process, we’re always happy to help—by phone, email, or in person.
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