Dealing with car repairs after an accident in Arizona can be one of the most frustrating aspects of the accident. Many drivers find themselves caught between lengthy insurance processes and the urgent need for a working vehicle.
Fortunately, there are ways to streamline the process and minimize stress. This guide will explain the easiest way to get your car repaired after an accident.
The Best Approach: Using Your Own Insurance Company
The fastest and most efficient way to get your car repaired after an accident is to go through your own insurance company. Even if the other driver was at fault, your insurance company can take immediate steps to get your car fixed and/or provide you with a rental vehicle.
Here’s why this approach works so well:
Quick Action on Repairs and Rentals
When you use your own insurance company, they typically:
- Send an adjuster to appraise your car’s damage quickly.
- Approve repairs without unnecessary delays and fights.
- Arrange for a rental car while you’re out of your car.
This proactive approach ensures you’re not left without transportation.
One of my clients followed this strategy and had a rental car ready within a few days of the accident, allowing them to continue their daily routine without major disruption.
No Risk to Your Insurance Rates in Arizona
Many people worry that filing a claim with their own insurance company will increase their premiums. However, Arizona law prohibits your insurance company from raising your rates if you’re not at fault and are only using your policy for a property damage claim.
This legal protection gives you peace of mind while resolving your claim quickly and conveniently.
Subrogation Process: Getting Reimbursed
And, for your information, after your insurance company pays for the repairs, they’ll seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurer through a process called subrogation. This internal process doesn’t involve you, saving you time and stress.
The Alternative: Filing Directly With the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance
While you can file a claim directly with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, this approach is often slower and more complicated. Here are some of the challenges:
Waiting for Liability Determination
The biggest problem is this.
Before the at-fault driver’s insurance company will process your claim, they must first investigate and determine who was at fault. This can take weeks or even months. During this time, you’re left waiting for repairs and without a rental car.
One of my clients experienced this firsthand. She waited over six months for the at-fault driver’s insurance company to admit fault and total her car.
The insurer initially claimed her case was fraudulent, delaying the process significantly. It wasn’t until the middle of discovery that they admitted fault and finally paid to total out her car. By then, the delay had caused unnecessary hardship for my client.
Delays in Rental Car Approvals
In another case, a client had to wait over a month to receive a rental car because the at-fault driver’s insurance company was slow to approve liability.
The delay was because the insurance company could not contact their driver for a statement about what happened. And, insurance companies don’t admit liability until they talk to their insured.
This unnecessary delay could have been avoided if the client had gone through their own insurance initially.
Benefits of Proactive Action
By using your own insurance policy to handle repairs and rental arrangements, you can avoid these pitfalls and focus on getting back to normal.
The alternative—waiting for the at-fault driver’s insurance—often leads to longer timelines and more stress. But in the end, it is your choice.
Conclusion
Understanding how to get your car repaired after an accident in Arizona can save you significant time and frustration. By choosing to work with your own insurance company, you’ll benefit from faster repairs, quicker access to a rental car, and legal protections for your rates.
While filing directly with the at-fault driver’s insurance is an option, it often involves delays and complications, as demonstrated by the above examples.
If you or anyone you know has been in an accident and need guidance on the best course of action immediately after an accident, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
The Law Offices of Derron D. Woodfork at woodforklaw.com and derronw@msn.com