Shop Talk
Welcome to the Gold Coast Auto Body “Answer Blog,” where we periodically post news updates, technical articles, and other items of interest to our customers and friends in the luxury car community.
Category: Insurance
The Human Cost of Shoddy Repair
As readers of this blog know full well, Gold Coast Auto Body is committed to repairing vehicles the right way. We use OEM parts and never cut corners on repairs, often times to the chagrin of many insurance companies.
While it would be incorrect to state that all insurance carriers value the dollar more than human life, there is a battle going on within our industry to make safety the predominant deciding factor when it comes to repair.
Case in point: In 2013 Marcia and Matthew Seebachan were in an automobile crash. They were driving a low mileage Honda Fit with one previous owner.
During the after-crash investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle had been improperly repaired during the previous owner’s tenure. The roof had not had the needed number of spot welds in order to keep the cage intact in the instance of a crash.
Both Matthew and Marcia suffered severe injuries and their lives will quite literally never be the same. Matthew endured such severe burns that there was no skin on his legs, allowing the muscles and tendons to be visible to the naked eye. It took over two years for the burns to heal. In Marcia’s case, the tendons connecting her skull to her spine were severely torn. Both Matthew and Marcia had to undergo multiple surgeries in the ensuing years.
The point? All of this could have been avoided. The investigation showed that had the spot welding been done properly, the cage would not have collapsed, and the car would not have caught fire. The worst outcome would have been Matthew might have suffered a broken leg.
The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) is a forum made up of participants from all industry segments for the expressed purpose of discussing and exploring common concerns.
In December 2019, Chairman Jeff Peevy and his wife Marie interview Matthew and Marcia to put a human face on the topic of what can happen when a repair shop doesn’t adhere to quality standards established by automakers and repairers.
Says Peevy: “If I was to have a vision for this industry it would be that we put the value of human life ahead of everything else.”
Which is exactly the philosophy we adhere to at GCAB. Our customers are customers for life because we put their lives first. Can your insurance carrier say the same?
Beware of Hidden Collision Damage
When you’re in a full-blown accident, obviously you’re going to bring your vehicle to a trusted body shop like Gold Coast Auto Body in Chicago. But even if your car, truck, or SUV is in a low-speed collision it is still advisable to bring it in because there could be damage beyond what’s detectible with the naked eye.
Even low-speed accidents like backing into another car or bumping into a pole in the parking lot can cause unseen damage to your car. A trained collision repair specialist can give you peace of mind if the damage is just cosmetic, or advise you of internal problems that could be costly if not attended to.
Examples of potential problem areas:
Cooling Hose/Transmission
That “little bump” may not affect your transmission directly, but it could damage the cooler hose. And if the hose is restricted, it will interfere with the flow of essential fluids necessary to cool the transmission. Driving without a functioning cooling hose can lead to a total transmission failure – a very costly and potentially dangerous scenario.
Wheel Alignment
You wouldn’t know it by looking, but wheel misalignment can come from just about any impact, including at extremely low speed. Misaligned wheels lead to tires wearing unevenly, which in turn will require you to replace them earlier than under normal circumstances. That’s money out of your pocket you didn’t have to spend.
Diagnostic Codes
As you probably know, virtually everything in your car is computerized. Modern vehicles have up to 100 sensors onboard; soon that number could top 200. Even with a small fender-bender, these systems can become damaged. A quality body shop like GCAB has specialized equipment that allows us to check your vehicle’s diagnostic codes. This is important even if your check engine light isn’t on because you may have pending codes. It’s worth the trip to the shop to be sure.
Body Frame
Damage to the frame of your vehicle can be serious, even if you can’t see it or feel it. If the frame of your vehicle is bent, the car won’t operate properly. Frame damage can lead to wheel alignment issues, and worse, may interfere with airbag deployment. Again, it’s worth your while to have an expert take a look.
Bumpers
Gone are the days of bumpers being little more than welded-on slabs of metal absorbing the impact of a bump. Modern bumpers often are filled with energy-absorbing materials like plastic or Styrofoam. When the bumper is hit with enough force to trigger its energy absorption characteristics, it needs to be replaced because it has served its purpose; it won’t work a second time. Of course, this wouldn’t be evident to a casual observer. An expert assessment is essential.
Vehicle Monitoring Systems
Bumpers also often house components for vehicle monitoring systems. As such, impact to the bumper can affect blind spot monitoring, parking and back-up cameras, and airbag deployment.
Trunk Malfunctions
According to this article from the Carwise.com website, rear-end collisions, even minor ones, can cause a litany of potential problems particular to that kind of impact. These problems can include trunk malfunctions such as water seepage during inclement weather or even the trunk popping open while driving.
Electrical
The article cited above also notes that electrical problems can happen long after a seemingly innocent bump. This is due to the impact loosening wires that can then eventually come detached. Loose wires can cause brake lights to go out unexpectedly, or result in a dead battery.
So that’s the pitch. For your safety, for your wallet, and for your peace of mind, have those minor fender-benders checked out by a qualified auto body shop like GCAB. And if you have cosmetic damage, you know we handle that too.
For more information on hidden damage, read this report from MotorWeek automotive magazine.
What to do in the event of an accident
Getting into an accident is an unnerving experience. Accidents are never planned or expected, but the best way to handle such an event is to be mentally prepared and know the proper steps to take.
Be prepared!
First of all, you need to ensure that your vehicle is emergency-ready by having flares or emergency signage handy. You should also make sure that you have a pad of paper and pen conveniently on board for documenting the other vehicle’s license plate and insurance information.
Another important thing is to make sure you have the proper amount of auto coverage with your insurance carrier. Aside from physical injuries, few things sting more after an accident than to discover repairs will be coming out of your own pocket.
Also, make sure you have your registration and proof of insurance in a place where you can easily access them. Today most states, including Illinois, allow the use of digital insurance cards – check with your carrier to see if they have an app for this purpose. You should also have important medical information on hand about you and other potential passengers – allergies, primary care physician contact info, and so on.
At the scene
Now, let’s talk about the accident itself. The first thing you’ll want to do is pull your vehicle to the side of the road, if possible. Turn off the engine and turn on your hazard lights or use road flairs to ensure you are visible to other vehicles.
You don’t want a fender bender to ever be the source of physical danger. If you suspect that the accident was caused by another driver experiencing road rage, or that you’re being set up for a carjacking, make sure to take extra precautions when engaging the other driver. If necessary, call 911 and wait in your vehicle until the police arrive.
The next step you will want to take is triage – that is, assessing possible injuries. If there are serious injuries, call 911. You can never be too safe when it comes to your health. In the event of serious injury, try not to move the injured party. Let the first responders be the ones to determine if those injured can be moved.
Even if there are no serious injuries due to an accident, you’ll still want to contact the police. They will fill out an accident report and document the scene. If the police are not able to come to the scene of the accident, you can go to the nearest police station and file the report yourself. Chances are you’ll need a copy of the police report when you file a claim with your insurance company.
What about insurance?
Speaking of insurance companies, exchanging information with the other driver is one of the most important things to do when you have an accident. Make sure you get their full name, phone number, and address; insurance company and policy number; driver’s license and plate information; make, model, and color of the other vehicle; and location of the accident.
You will also want contact information on all passengers involved in the crash. If there are any witnesses to the crash, make sure to get their contact information too.
Be sure to take pictures of the accident scene, including damage to all vehicles involved. This will help the insurance adjusters in determining fault.
Do not discuss fault when going over the facts of the accident with the other driver. Fault will be determined by the insurance adjusters based upon the damage, any pictures of the scene, and information gathered on all parties involved.
Finally, you’ll want to notify your insurance company and start the claims process. You should contact your rep while you are still at the scene of the accident, so they can help walk you through what they will need in order to process your claim. Again, if your carrier offers a smartphone app, this is the time to use it.
Unless your safety is at risk, do not leave the scene of an accident until all of these steps are taken. In the event that your accident was with an unattended vehicle and you can’t locate the owner, leave a note with your name, address, and phone number and record the details of the accident for filing a police report and a claim with your insurance carrier.
Body repair and other considerations
If there is physical damage to your vehicle, you are obviously going to want to schedule repairs with a quality body shop like Gold Coast Auto Body. In fact, you may want to keep our contact info in your phone (312.787.0333), just in case. If your car isn’t drivable, it’s a better idea to have it towed directly to us rather than an impound lot or a shop you’re unfamiliar with. You may also want to take photos of your car at the scene to provide a visual record of the damage.
If there are serious injuries to you or your passengers, you may want to contact a personal injury attorney. For information on when it is recommended that you secure the services of an attorney, see a Legal Zoom article.
Knowing the proper steps to take in the event of an accident can save lives, reduce injuries, and expedite the insurance claim process.
Our Customers Weigh In
We take great pride in the work we do here at Gold Coast Auto Body, and we’re not the only ones. Read a few of the recent endorsements we’ve received from thousands of satisfied customers who know first-hand the quality and commitment we bring to every job we do.
