Your Rights as a Consumer

As a consumer of auto collision repair service, you have a number of rights which are intended to ensure that your vehicle will be repaired in a complete, proper, and safe manner. Consider the following rights.

Choice of Repair Facility

Choosing the body shop where the repairs will be performed is an important decision, and most of the time, you have the right to make that decision. Not all car repair shops are the same when it comes to having properly trained and licensed technicians and the equipment and facilities required to fix your vehicle right. Therefore, making a well informed decision is key.

Your insurance company may recommend that you use one of its “direct-repair facilities”, auto repair facilities with which the insurance company has an agreement. If you don’t already have a favorite body shop in mind, this may be a good choice.

Another great source of advice to consider is your friends or family who have gone through the auto repair process themselves. Furthermore, don’t forget about your own dealership, as it may have its body shop or a recommended list of local reputable shops.

The most important thing to remember is that the body shop is fixing YOUR vehicle for YOU, so it is crucial that you feel comfortable with the repair shop that you choose. In case you are making an insurance claim, your insurer will pay the bill, but in most cases, the insurer cannot require you to use a particular shop—that means that, regardless of what you hear, the choice of the body shop is up to you.

Choice of Repair Parts

You can request that your vehicle be fixed with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts - the parts that your original vehicle manufacturer distributes to guarantee proper function, fit, and safety.

Two factors may determine whether your request will be honored: the limitations of your insurance policy, as well as any local regulations concerning collision repair.

5 steps to Follow after a Vehicle Collision

Auto collisions are always unexpected, and accidents could happen to anyone. So Now What?

Do you need a tow truck? Call 905-660-6100 for 24/7 Towing Assistance.

Follow these 5 simple steps to minimize the stress when you get into a car accident.

Step 1: Always Stop

If you are involved in a collision, you must stop, otherwise you may be subject to criminal prosecution. Therefore, you should always stop your vehicle and, as soon as it’s safe, exit the car. Remain calm.

Step 2: Check for Injuries

Assess the injuries of people involved and, if unsure, call 911. Taking care of victims is always a priority, but, in some cases, it may not be safe to move the victims, so wait for professional help to arrive.

Step 3: Pull Over and Record Damage

If it is safe, pull over to the side of the road, so that you don’t interfere with traffic. Turn on your vehicle’s emergency signals and use cones for additional safety. Assess the condition of the vehicles to the best of your abilities and take pictures of all the damage. If you believe the damage value is below $1000, contact the police department and follow their further instructions. In case the collision damage is greater than $1000 and injuries are present, call 911.

Step 4: Exchange Information and Document the Collision

Be sure to obtain the following information from all involved drivers:

• Names, address, contact information
• Licence plate numbers
• Driver’s licence numbers
• Insurance information
• Contact information of registered vehicle owners

If a driver fails to provide any of the requested information, you may notify the police about the accident.

Also, obtain contact information of passengers and witnesses.

Step 5: Contact the Professionals at Modern Automotive Collision Repair Centre

Do you need a tow truck? Call 905-660-6100 for 24/7 Towing Assistance.

DO NOT

• Move anybody who has been injured, unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Discuss responsibility, fault, and circumstances of the accident with other driver(s).
• Drive your vehicle if you are not sure it’s safe.
• Sign any documents with repair shops, or towing and insurance companies that you have not carefully read or don’t fully understand.