Category: Auto Body Blog

Far too many car accidents are caused by drunk drivers. We all know that drunk driving is bad but, when we’re in an inebriated state, we occasionally need the intervention of a loved one to stand in for our better judgement and keep us off the road. Greenwood’s Seattle body shop offers the following tips in the event that you ever find yourself between a drunk friend and the driver’s seat:

First off, don’t be confrontational. Your friend is in an emotional state, and needs to be steered by positive emotions. Try to be light-hearted about it, make it a joke, or suggest that it would be a personal favor to you if he or she didn’t get behind the wheel. If this doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to take his or her keys while he or she isn’t looking. Be adamant about not riding in the same car as the drunk driver. Get some support if you need to, as drunk people can be quite susceptible to social pressure.

If everything else fails, remember that you’d be doing your friend a favor to alert the authorities. After all, he or she is better off with a police record than with the injury or death that so frequently accompanies drunk driving.

Are you experiencing a quick back-and-forth motion in your steering wheel? Greenwood’s Seattle body shop can help! This is a common problem resulting from collisions or pothole-related damage, and can in many cases actually be quite simple and inexpensive to repair.

The first question to ask is, “When is your steering wheel shaking?” In general, you might be experiencing either a constant shaking motion or a shake that only occurs when you reach a certain speed. If your steering wheel is shaking only at a certain speed, chances are good that your wheels are just a little out of balance and need a simple alignment. If the shaking is constant, you might have either a bent wheel or a loose steering linkage. Whatever the case may be, bring your car in to Greenwood and we’ll get your restless wheel back in order again!

You don’t want to wait until you need auto collision repair to make sure you’ve got everything in order.  Follow these simple tips from your friendly Seattle auto body shop to avoid problems after the crash.

• Read and understand your insurance policy.  If you don’t understand any part of it, talk to your representative.

• Know your rights and responsibilities.  Review the driving and insurance laws of your state.

• Identify organizations that you can trust.  It’s better to know who your auto shop, doctor, and legal council will be before you need them in order to avoid aggressive fraud artists.

• Know your vehicle.  Perform regular maintenance and keep it in reliable condition.

• Practice safe driving!  You may not be able to control other drivers, but you should at least be able to rely on yourself.

So, you’ve been in an accident and managed to get your car put back together with our Seattle body shop. Is your insurance going to pick up the bill? In order to make sure you’re getting the most out of your insurance provider, keep the following in mind:

After you’ve filed your claim with your insurance company, they should contact you within a few days for more information. They will try to get the full account of what happened, which may include asking for an examination under oath, contacting witnesses of the event, and reviewing any documentation of injuries, expenses, or lost wages you may be claiming. An adjustor or appraiser will want to look over your damaged vehicle before it is repaired. In the event of minor damages, it is not unusual that they may ask you to seek out competitive bids.

If your insurance company is not responsive, or if you ever feel that you are being treated unreasonably, you should contact the Department of Insurance. Check the website of your state’s individual Department of Insurance to read more on your rights and responsibilities.

You cannot expect to avoid auto collisions, but you can prepare yourself for when they occur.  Keep the following in mind for the next time you find yourself in an accident out on the road.

• Your first priority should be to check for injuries.  Unless they are in immediate danger, do not attempt to move anyone who may have suffered a spine injury.  Call for emergency service.

• Call the police.  The police may not come to the scene, depending on the severity and location of the accident, but they should be notified regardless.

• Get information from all drivers.  This includes names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plates and vehicle identification numbers.

• Get a record of the accident.  Ask for contact information from witnesses, and take pictures of the damage and accident scene if possible.

• Notify your insurance company immediately.

• The accident must be reported to the DMV within ten days if there are injuries or the vehicle damage exceeds $750.00.

• In the event that the owner of one of the vehicles involved is not available, leave a note with the names and addresses of the drivers.

• Do not argue with the other drivers or sign any statements!  Prepare your story for the proper officials.

• Contact Greenwood Collision’s Seattle auto body shop for all your repair needs.

Sometimes an auto collision repair job at our Seattle body shop may call for replacing damaged parts with what are called “aftermarket parts.” These are simply parts that were not made by the original manufacturer. It is perfectly legal to use such parts, and their aftermarket nature should be no particular indicator of a low-quality or second-rate product.

Consumers should be aware that an auto body shop is required to provide them with an invoice of all parts used in the repair of their car, and that this invoice should identify all aftermarket parts used. Check your invoices to assure that your shop is complying with this, as a failure to do so may be indicative of dishonest repair work.