By Brenda Erdahl
If you’re involved in a car accident that causes you to skid, it’s important to know your rights, especially when it comes to making an insurance claim.
Not only is your vehicle one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, but it also transports your most valuable possession – your loved ones. That’s why it’s so important to choose a collision repair shop that truly has your best interests in mind. Unfortunately, some insurance companies want you to believe they know best, and if you don’t follow their advice, they may not pay.
There is a term for this type of behavior: “steering.”
Steerage is when an insurance company, insurance agent, or claims system attempts to persuade a consumer to use a particular repair shop or provider. Steerage is illegal in Minnesota.
“Under state law, you can take your vehicle to the shop of your choice,” said Mike Zieska of MCP Collision and Glass in Annandale.
That’s the message Zieska and other trauma centers in Minnesota want to convey.
“We want to inform customers about their rights and let them know that it is their decision,” he said.
He added that not every insurance company plays this game. He works with many local insurance agents who have their customers’ best interests at heart. A trusted, local insurance agency can be a great resource when it comes to choosing a collision repair center that will make for a smoother collision repair experience,” he said.
Ultimately, however, collision centers, not insurance companies, are responsible for your repairs, so it is in their best interest to return your vehicle to its pre-accident condition. The problem is that some insurance companies refuse to pay for certain repairs that collision centers like MCP know are critical to your safety and the value of your vehicle.
The result is inadequate repairs or, if there is a potential liability issue, the accident centers bite the bullet and carry out the necessary repairs anyway without paying full compensation.
This leads to a greater shortage of body shops that can serve their customers and, in turn, longer wait times to repair your vehicle.
The key to solving the problem is customer involvement. When an insurance company announces that it will not pay, the customer must call and ask why.
To read more of this story, subscribe today.
