A Crash Course In Saving Money After A Car Accident
By Features Desk
Wednesday, March 15, 2017.
No-one prepares for a road accident – they just happen. According to insurance company statistics, the average driver is likely to make a claim every 17.5 years. If you’ve recently been involved in a crash or simply want to brace you and your wallet for the inevitable, here are some ways to financially deal with a road accident swiftly and effectively.
Notify your insurance company immediately
Even if you don’t make a claim, you need to notify your car insurance provider immediately after a crash, filling them in on all the details. Some insurance companies won’t accept a claim unless you’ve notified them 48 hours after the crash (this means you can still leave filing the claim to a later date, so long as you’ve notified them). Be thorough with the details – if the crash wasn’t your fault, you should get your compensation.
Hire a lawyer
If you’re making a claim and your insurance company is wrongly refusing to pay out, or you’ve been injured and think you can gain compensation this way, you should highly consider hiring a lawyer and making a legal claim. You should choose a specific law firm such as Keller & Keller for your car accident representation, and not simply a general law firm – road-accident-specific lawyers are likely to have more experience in this field. If you win the claim, you may be able to make some money to go towards your repairs.
Shop around for repairs
The cost of repairs will vary from mechanic to mechanic, so get a few quotes before committing. If part needs to be replaced, look online to see how much that part sells for so that you know which estimates are rip-offs. If you’ve been with a mechanic for a while, it may be best to stick with them as your loyalty could reduce costs. Beware of prices that are too good to be true – some less reputable mechanics may charge low costs, but the service may not be as good (or they may be using second-hand parts). Look online for reviews before choosing a budget mechanic.
Know when to scrap
If damage costs are too high, you may be looking at a write-off. Don’t spend thousands on repairs if the car isn’t worth that amount – cut your losses and take your vehicle to a scrap yard. Many places will pay you to scrap your car. It won’t be much money, but it could work out cheaper than costly repairs to an already old and battered car.
Don’t use a hire car
Whilst getting repairs, many will use a hire car in the meantime. Don’t do this unless your insurance company provides a free one or unless you physically need one for your job. Hire car prices can be very steep and could put you more out of pocket. In many cases, public transport will be cheaper. If you need to get around locally, using a bike might be your best temporary alternative.
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