All insurance claims are welcome!

We know thinking about a trip to the auto body shop is pretty much the furthest thing from anyone’s notion of a “good time”. It’s generally the result of an unexpected road run-in with a car, an animal, or something weather-related.

Although we know it’s impossible to ever fully prepare yourself for situations like these, we do have some pain-free pointers for getting your vehicle from “collision” to “corrected” as quickly as possible.

At the Scene of the Accident

1. Get to Safety: turn on your hazards, get to a safe spot (if possible), and exercise caution when exiting your vehicle.
2. Call for Help: call 911 if anyone is injured, and administer first aid to injured persons if possible.
3. Capture All Available Information: this includes…

– DRIVER INFO

note the name/address/phone number/driver’s license #/state/expiration date/DOB

*also note if glasses or contacts are indicated on the DL & whether the driver appears to be wearing either

– VEHICLE INFO

note the make/model/year/color/license plate #/state/expiration & name/phone/address of registered owner

*also note the condition & damage

– INSURANCE INFO

note the other driver’s insurance company/phone number/address/policy #/expiration

*also note the insurance agent’s name & contact info

-WITNESS/PASSENGER INFO

– note the names and contact information of any passengers or witnesses to the accident

* if no one comes forward as a witness, ask anyone in the area if they saw the accident

– OTHER DETAILS

– note the time, weather/road conditions, location

* sketch the position/direction of the vehicles, intersection, road signs, etc

– PHOTOS

– take pictures of the scene (as well as photos of license plate, insurance, driver’s license, and registration), location, vehicles, damage, and people involved

* take video/audio if possible

After the Accident

1. Report the accident: report the accident to your insurance company and file an accident report with the local police and/or DMV as necessary.
2. Review your insurance policy: check your policy to review coverage details. Tim Scribner, East Hartford Body Shop Manager, recommends paying the additional $3 a month for rental coverage on your policy. It’s a cheap, worthwhile investment that will save you from added stress when you’re in a bind.
3. Choose the best body shop: understand that the body shop you choose does NOT have to be the one your insurance company recommended. It’s against CT state law for the insurance company to tell you where to take your car – you have the right of choice. Select a quality auto body shop that can get your vehicle back into shape quickly and correctly to protect your investment.

How to Select the Best Body Shop

With so much new and sophisticated technology in cars now, like Parking Assist, GPS, and Bluetooth streaming, it’s extra important to ensure that they’re re-calibrated and functioning properly after a collision. Be weary of manufacturers of replacements parts – though they may claim the replacement part will work just fine, the reality is oftentimes it’s NOT the right repair. OEM parts are the only way to ensure the sensors in new car technology will perform as good as new after an accident.

At Hoffman Auto Body:

1. We use certified replacement parts. At Hoffman, we’re manufacturer-certified for auto body repair from Audi, Porsche, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Ford. Unlike the average “Joe’s Auto Body”, we use the OEM’s parts – which means you’ll get the right repair when you come to us. Other repair shops might, for instance, improperly replace an Audi sensor, shutting it off temporarily. But not far down the road you could wind up with an air bag that doesn’t deploy next time you need it.

Not so with Hoffman. Your first trip will be your last trip – we’ll fix the problem with the right parts from the get-go.

2. Our trained team and technology are second to none. At Hoffman, we are heavily invested in keeping current with rapidly evolving technology and staying one step ahead. Says Scribner, “Our team took 70 training classes last year – it’s an investment you need to make to stay on top of how technology changes. I don’t think anyone trains as hard as we do.”

That includes investing in the ability to repair damage to aluminum – an ability most other shops. Scribner adds, “Aluminum is going to be used more and more. You can’t repair it in a shop that does regular sheet metal – you need to separate parts and tools, otherwise the cross-contamination causes parts to corrode. We built a half million dollar stall to keep aluminum parts separate.”

3. We strive to make your auto body work as hassle-free, quick, and painless as possible. In addition to performing fast, top-quality work on your car, we try to remove as much pain from the equation as possible. That includes free towing within a 15-mile radius (with minimum body shop service purchase) and convenient access to replacement cars with on-site Enterprise rental at both of our body shops.

“We know people aren’t always happy when they come to us and they’re often feeling stressed,” says says Scribner. “It’s like an unexpected trip I had to make to the ER recently…it’s those less-than-ideal situations that demand more compassion and this is what Hoffman strives to do. We’re here to help the customer and it feels good to do so.” West Simsbury Body Shop Manager Jim Kronick agrees, “We do everything in our power to protect your investment.”

4. We work with all the major car insurance companies. Whether you’ve got Geico, Allstate, USAA, or Progressive – we can work with them to support your claim. No matter who’s covering the repair, we help you make sure it’s done well and with the right quality parts.

Remember to think of when you’re in a car jam. We’ll get you back on the road safely, quickly, and always with the best quality and service around.