Question:
My car was hit at a red light, and we filed a claim with the
at-fault party's insurer. They said to take the car to the body
shop. Their adjuster came and paid the shop on the spot. I,
however, fixed the car on my own (very minor damage). What happens
to the money? Will the body shop send it back to the
insurance company, and can I get it since I made the repairs?
Answer:
You should be able to get the money you paid out for repairs since
you were indeed the one that fixed your car's minor damages. The
body shop has isn't entitled to keep the money because it didn't do
the repairs. Once contacted by the insurance company, the repair
shop should return the money to the insurer.
You'll need to take the lead in this situation, though, and
contact the car insurance company that paid out the
claim
to the body shop to explain that you did your own repairs. It will
tell you how the claim will proceed so that you can be
reimbursed.
Usually state laws require an auto insurance company to stand
behind the repairs of a recommended shop, in case the vehicle is
not repaired properly. Insurance companies aren't normally too
pleased when you take on your own repairs because now there is no
guarantee that the work was done correctly.
By doing your own repairs, if other mechanical issues come up
related to this
auto accident
(something you missed when making your own repairs), it would be
difficult to make an additional claim.
To be reimbursed for the repairs you have already made, the
insurance company may ask for receipts and proof of the repair
(possibly asking for an inspection of the car), and then will
request the payment to be returned from the body shop so that they
can reimburse you for the repairs.
In the future, if you want to fix your own damaged car, or even
cash out and not get any repairs made, I'd recommend that you
notify the insurance company handling the claim in advance of them
paying any body shop.
If you run into difficulty being reimbursed for the repairs that
you made to your vehicle after this minor accident, you can contact
your
state's insurance regulator
for consumer help and advice.