Welcome to the Crash Corner

What do you mean, you don't have $1,000 in your back pocket?

Aaron Cooper — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:58:00 GMT

Let's face it. The economy is pathetic right now, and it's not going to improve overnight. All of us are now faced with the likelihood of decreased income, at the same time as increased expenses; as if these aren't bad enough, now we live with the threat of a new sales tax on labor ... Let's just hope it doesn't actually happen. Because budgets are so tight for everyone, planning ahead for unexpected costs is more important that ever. A fairly common problem we see quite frequently is people not having enough money to pay their deductible, and so they are forced to continue to drive unsafe vehicles until they somehow come up with the money they need. One reason why this is such a problem is that competition in the insurance industry is so fierce, that anyone selling policies will most likely give the consumer a quote, based upon the highest possible deductible amount; this creates the illusion of a substantial savings in your best interest, when in reality, you are simply agreeing to pay a higher percentage of the repair costs, in the event of a collision.
Think about this: The average repair cost,according to national statistics, is $2,000.00. If you have a $1,000.00deductible, you are paying 50% of the repair cost! That's great for the insurance provider, but bad for you; ask yourself, how many of us actually have an extra $1,000.00 or even $500.00, just sitting in our back pockets? I know I don't. Even though it seems like a good idea to save a little money over the course of a year, by paying a higher deductible, that idea usually proves to be very painful when you unexpectedly have to use your collision insurance; it's far less painful to pay between $20.00 and $40.00extra per month, over the course of a year. I recommend calling your agent to have your annual cost recalculated, with a lower deductible amount.

Aaron Cooper
Director of Marketing
Sonshine Auto Body
(760) 243-3185

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Cheap Insurance is the Most Expensive You Can Buy

Aaron Cooper — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:13:00 GMT

Even though we all have to make financial sacrifices these days, a cutback that should never be made is one which affects your insurance coverage limits. It usually seems the logical thing to do, even when initially shopping for insurance, but what most insurance salespeople don't explain clearly is that the limits of your policy are directly relative to your premium amounts. In other words, if you didn't purchase a policy with high enough payout limits, you will have to PAY OUT OF YOUR POCKET everything your insurance company won't cover. This is especially common among personal injury cases, for example:

Let's imagine you caused a collision, wherein the driver of the other vehicle suffered a broken wrist which required surgery; if your liability limit for personal injury was only $25,000.00, yet the surgery cost $45,000.00, then you get sued for payment of the remaining amount due. And that's not even taking into consideration other factors, like loss of income, physical therapy costs, and of course the big favorite of all attorneys, the "pain and suffering" costs. In short, you and your family could quickly lose everything you've worked so hard for-and all because you decided to try and save a measly few hundred dollars per year. Think about it...

Aaron Cooper

Director of Marketing

Sonshine Auto Body

(760)243-3185

Ignorance Is NOT Bliss

Aaron Cooper — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:08:00 GMT

As both the collision repair and insurance industries are in a state of constant change, it's easy for most consumers to feel a bit "out of the loop." From the time you purchase an insurance policy to the time you actually file a claim, you are bombarded with a great deal of information that you're not likely to fully understand, let alone remember. This is why your insurance agent is so very important to keep in contact with. Agents exist to fulfill many more needs than merely selling policies; he or she is there to provide you, the consumer, with the most current information about your policy and to guide you through the often intimidating process of getting your vehicle repaired.

Despite the constant barrage of very convincing ads, which seem to encourage the public to be less involved and less knowledgeable about these processes, we strongly advise everyone in our high desert community to keep yourselves "in the loop," by simply taking a few minutes from time to time and calling your agent. Do you know the differences between collision and comprehensive claims? Does your policy provide you with a rental car, while repairs to your vehicle are being completed? Will you be in danger of a rate increase? Will you be forced to pay more than your deductible amount, if you choose a repair facility that your insurance company doesn't have a contract with? These are only a few of the many concerns that every consumer should have; believe me, it's far better to know the answers to these questions before you need to use your insurance.

Aaron Cooper

Director of Marketing

Sonshine Auto Body

(760)243-3185

If You Use It...

Aaron Cooper — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:59:00 GMT

Many people believe that if you file a repair claim, when you are the driver "at fault", that you automatically become a candidate for being dropped by your insurance company. Even though this may be true for some sub-standard insurance carriers, it is not the case for the vast majority of reputable insurance companies; this is due mainly to the fact that the insurance industry is so competitive, they really don't want to lose your business unless you become an excessive risk for them to insure. Speaking of risk, you are actually more likely to be seen as less of a risk to your insurance provider, if you do get your vehicle repaired, in the event of a collision. This is because the insurance companies, DMV and law enforcement agencies all know how unsafe it is to drive a damaged vehicle, for a multitude of good reasons, a few being:

Even moderate damage can cause you to have less control over your vehicle.
Inoperative lights make you less visible to other drivers.
Internal or non-visible damage may be on the verge of becoming serious safety issues, if you continue to operate your damaged vehicle.
Unrepaired damage will only worsen in time, becoming more expensive to fix later.
Your vehicle's resale value will be negatively affected.
A second impact to or near the already damaged area can likely result in injuries to you and your loved ones! Your vehicle will only protect you if its structure is intact, per the manufacturer's specifications.

With these facts in mind, the logical priority quickly becomes clear. You can deal with a slight rate increase a lot easier than you can deal with bodily injuries; in fact, your rates may not increase, depending on your situation. The only way to know for sure is to call your agent every so often, and let him or her keep you informed.

If not having deductible money is an issue for you, here's a suggestion: Every month, simply set aside $10.00 in a safe place at home (if you can afford to set aside more from time to time, then you'll reach your goal even more quickly), and in a year's time, you will have saved $120.00. Don't forget that the average driver only has a collision every 5 to 7 years, so most people can easily save enough money to cover their deductible in about a 4-year time-span.

Aaron Cooper

Director of Marketing

Sonshine Auto Body

(760)243-3185

"Steer" Manure

Aaron Cooper — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:50:00 GMT

There's a term that the general public is beginning to hear quite frequently, in the industry: steering. This is a very disturbing word for any collision repair shop, as well as for the consumer. Steering occurs whenever an insurance company coerces the insured to take their damaged vehicle to a repair facility of the insurance company's choice, instead of letting you, the consumer, choose for yourself. Despite the anti-steering laws which have been in effect for well over a decade, some insurance companies still engage in this unfair practice; in fact,there is now a class action lawsuit being pursued in Connecticut, aimed at two large insurance companies who have directly violated the law. The good news for us as both consumers and repair facilities is the fact that the Superior Court of Connecticut is now siding against these insurance providers,and that in itself is a giant step forward for this industry; the more often state governments stand with us against these politically (not to mention financially) powerful giants, the more likely it is that we can all receive top quality repairs, at fair prices.

If anyone would like more information, or to get a copy of the ABRN article regarding the Connecticut lawsuit, feel free to contact me.

Aaron Cooper
Director of Marketing
Sonshine Auto Body
(760) 243-3185

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

What do you mean, you don't have $1,000 in your back pocket?

Aaron Cooper — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:38:00 GMT

Let's face it. The economy is pathetic right now, and it's not going to improve overnight. All of us are now faced with the likelihood of decreased income, at the same time as increased expenses; as if these aren't bad enough, now we live with the threat of a new sales tax on labor ... Let's just hope it doesn't actually happen. Because budgets are so tight for everyone, planning ahead for unexpected costs is more important that ever. A fairly common problem we see quite frequently is people not having enough money to pay their deductible, and so they are forced to continue to drive unsafe vehicles until they somehow come up with the money they need. One reason why this is such a problem is that competition in the insurance industry is so fierce, that anyone selling policies will most likely give the consumer a quote, based upon the highest possible deductible amount; this creates the illusion of a substantial savings in your best interest, when in reality, you are simply agreeing to pay a higher percentage of the repair costs, in the event of a collision.
Think about this: The average repair cost, according to national statistics, is $2,000.00. If you have a $1,000.00 deductible, you are paying 50% of the repair cost! That's great for the insurance provider, but bad for you; ask yourself, how many of us actually have an extra $1,000.00 or even $500.00, just sitting in our back pockets? I know I don't. Even though it seems like a good idea to save a little money over the course of a year, by paying a higher deductible, that idea usually proves to be very painful when you unexpectedly have to use your collision insurance; it's far less painful to pay between $20.00 and $40.00 extra per month, over the course of a year. I recommend calling your agent to have your annual cost recalculated, with a lower deductible amount.

Aaron Cooper
Director of Marketing
Sonshine Auto Body
(760) 243-3185

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Welcome

Aaron Cooper — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:26:45 GMT

Welcome to our blog, where you will find important information and discussions regarding the collision repair and insurance industries. Feel free to post your mature questions or comments. All questions will be answered in a timely manner. If you have a question that requires a private answer, feel free to email me at acooper@sonshinecollision.com .

Best wishes,
Aaron Cooper
Marketing Director
(760) 243-3185

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.