By Brenda Erdahl
When a car accident puts you in a tailspin it’s important to know your rights, especially when it comes to filing an insurance claim.
Not only is your vehicle one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, it also carries your most valuable possessions – your loved ones. That’s why it’s so important to choose a collision repair center that truly has your best interests in mind. Unfortunately, some insurance companies will have you believe they know best and if you don’t follow their advice, they may not pay.
There is a term for that kind of behavior, and it’s called steering.
Steering occurs when an insurance company, representative, or claims system attempts to convince a consumer to use a particular repair facility or vendor. In Minnesota, steering is illegal.
“By 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 Minnesota collision centers want to get across.
“We want to inform customers of their rights and that it’s their choice,” he said.
He added that not every insurance company plays this game. He works with many local insurance agents who do 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 which will make for a smoother collision repair experience,” he said.
But ultimately, it’s the collision centers, not insurance companies, that are liable for your repairs, so it is in their best interest to repair your vehicle to pre-accident condition. The problem is some insurance companies are refusing to pay for certain repairs that collision centers like MCP know are integral to your safety and the value of your vehicle.
The results are subpar repairs, or if there is a potential liability issue collision centers just bite the bullet and make the needed repairs anyway without full compensation.
That’s leading to a greater shortage of collision centers to serve customers and in turn leads to longer wait times to get your vehicle repaired.
The key to fixing the problem is customer involvement. If an insurance company says they won’t pay, the customer needs to call and ask why?