Orange County is famous for its rich tourist attraction sites. It’s also America’s sixth-most populous county. Just like all other counties, drivers in Orange County get involved in vehicle accidents at some point in their lives.

Luckily, most of these are not fatal, but even minor collisions usually cause damages. The type of damages sustained depends on where you get hit. If it is a head-on collision with another vehicle or object, the car’s front bumper, hood, headlights, and windshield will likely get damaged. If another vehicle rear-ended yours, the warped frame would need straightening. Among other damages are dented doors, broken side mirrors, and shattered windows.

But how many motorists are aware of the repair process like one offered in Orange County by a collision repair shop? Definitely, very few. If you’re one of them, grab this opportunity to learn more about it in this informative breakdown procedure.

• Move the Vehicle Away From the Road

Contact a police officer to note the details of the accident. Wait for the officer to arrive if the other party is reluctant. The officer will call for emergency services and an ambulance in case of injuries. Afterward, call your insurance company to take you through your next step and send them the required information. For your safety and that of others, move the vehicle to the roadside or nearby parking, except if the car spoilt,  then get a tow truck to pull the car.

• Damage Assessment

Take your vehicle to a qualified center for damage assessment regardless of the collision degree. There may be invisible underlying damages. If your car is still operational, drive it to a service center. If not, seek the services of a tow truck. At Orange County, the collision repair centers, you will complete a drop-off agreement form, giving the repairer permission to collect your contact information and negotiate with the insurance company. Image recognition determines the severity of the collision, and framework technology identifies the damaged car components.

• File an Auto Insurance Claim

If you have comprehensive and collision insurance cover, file a claim with your insurance company for compensation for the car damages and the other driver if you are liable.

• Get an Estimate for the Repairs

On the same day, let the collision service center inspect your car and present an estimate for the car’s body repair unless your car arrived there after business hours. The photo recognition results are vital in determining the repair calculation estimates.

Technicians at collision repair centers would advise you if it is safe to drive the car home regularly or leave it at the garage until repairs are complete. Some centers will assist you in securing a rental car for this period. Moreover, the company provides a completion time estimate, but some factors can affect this date.

• Have Your Insurer Approve the Estimate

After receiving the repair estimate, let your insurer verify. The service center can send photos to your policy provider, or a representative can see the car before approving any work.

• Body and Collision Repair

When the actual work begins, your car might stay at the repair center for several days, and you will need to find alternative transportation. Generally, minor repairs take 3-5 working days, while large ones go up to a month. There may be delays in receiving spare parts and the insurer issues. Therefore, it is proper to do the repairs efficiently to return the car to its original state.

• Paint Refinishing

After all repairs, the vehicle has to undergo painting for a good look. Repair centers today have computerized color matching equipment and experienced artists to produce high-quality results. After painting the small parts, the painter himself delivers that car to the technician for reassembly.

• Reassembly

The repairer should ensure everything goes back to its position and they are functioning correctly. The vehicle must be safe and should perform as expected after assembly. Modern cars will take longer to get the components together.

• Clean-up Quality Control

The quality control department will review the car, do a functionality test, and go for a test drive. If they identify a problem, it goes back for rectification. If all is well, the garage cleans the car in preparation for billing.

The service center provides the final billing and you will need to clear the costs to retrieve your car. You are only responsible for the deductibles because the policy company would have left a cheque with the repair center, if you have insurance.

It is imperative to be part of the repair process. While some collision repair centers prefer to keep the customer unaware of what the car will go through during the process, others involve the client in each repair step. Ultimately, the customer will drive away with complete confidence and peace of mind. Pick a reputable center to be sure of a quality job.