Choose Us!

524 31st Avenue SW
Minot, ND 58701
ph: 701-839-0989
fax: 701-839-0997
alt: 800-219-2232

If you have an accident

On this page you will find some helpful advice in the event you have an accident. 

At the accident scene:

  • Notify law enforcement.
  • Try to keep calm.  Do whatever is necessary to protect your family members or passengers and your property.
  • Do not leave the scene of an accident.
  • Check for injuries and get help if needed.
  • Record the name, address, phone number and insurance information of the other driver and/or vehicle owner.
  • Do not admit responsibility at the accident scene or blame anyone else.
  • Always notify law enforcement if there are injuries, death or significant property damage related to the accident.  Cooperate with law enforcement officials.
  • Record the name, address and phone numbers of any witnesses; a witness is someone that saw the accident but was not involved in it.
  • Note the date, time and location of the accident.  Record details like cross streets, lane configurations and weather conditions.

If your vehicle is damaged and you are at fault:

  • Notify your insurance company  of the accident and of the vehicles that were damaged (your own and others).
  • Find out how yhour insurance company handles its claims.
    • Will their claims department assess the damage?
    • Do you need to get an estimate?
    • Do they have a direct repair program?
  • Remember:  your deductible applies only to the damage on your vehicle.  Your liability coverage has no deductible and pays for the damage to someone else's vehicle or property.
  • Choose the collision center that will repair your vehicle.
  • Let your liability insurance company deal with the other driver and the damage to their vehicle.

If your vehicle is damaged and you are not at fault:

  • Contact the insurance company of the person at fault.
  • Find out how that insurance company handles its claims.
    • Will their claims department assess the damage?
    • Do you need to get an estimate?
    • Do they have a direct repair program?
  • Choose the collision center that will repair your vehicle.
  • You are entitled to a rental vehicle while your vehicle is not drivable or at least while it is in the shop for repairs.

How to choose a collision center:

  • Choose a collision center with a good reputation for the qualitiy of their repairs and their business practices.  Ask about their warranty and ask for references.
  • Where your vehicle is repaired is your choice!  It is your vehicle and ultimately you decide where your vehicle is repaired.
  • Choose a collision center with I-CAR training and and Gold Class designatioin.  I-CAR is a cooperative effort between vehicle manufacturers, the insurance industry and the collision repair industry.  I-CAR researches, develops and delivers quality technical educational programs related to collision repair for the ultimate benefit of you, the consumer.  I-CAR Gold Class status assures you that the estimators and technicians have a high level of I-CAR training.  Click here to learn more about I-CAR.

Know what you're buying!

  • Inferior repairs can compromise the safety of your vehicle and may diminish its value by hundreds or thousands of dollars at trade-in time.
  • Ask questions so you understand what will be repaired and what will be replaced and why. 
  • Understand if replacement parts will be original equipment, used or aftermarket.
  • Beware of shops that will "pay your deductible."  You get what you pay for!  If a shop offers to pay your deductible, will they be compromising the safety and qualiity of the repair to do so?  Will they be billing the insurance company for repairs that aren't done or parts that aren't replaced? 
  • Make sure you know what you are getting!

 

Where your vehicle is repaired is your choice! 

Participation in an insurance company's direct repair program may eliminate some steps in the claims process for you but it will not assure a better repair!  Participation is a business decision made on the part of the shop.  Not all shops choose to participate in every program, for a variety of reasons.  If you have an accident, we hope you will Choose Us!

 

 Contact us for answers to your questions.

701-839-0989

 

524 31st Avenue SW
Minot, ND 58701
ph: 701-839-0989
fax: 701-839-0997
alt: 800-219-2232