What to do after a car accident in Michigan
Nobody reads this before they need it. If you're reading it now: what to do at the scene, and what to tell your insurer.
Know your rights in Michigan
- The shop is your call. No insurer gets to send you somewhere off a list, and you do not need their permission to pick us.
- One estimate is enough. Michigan does not oblige you to go and collect two more before a claim can move.
- The repair should return the car to how it drove, looked, and protected you before the crash.
- Get the warranty in writing, and check it covers labour, materials, parts and paint rather than just the paint.
The first one is where people get talked round. An adjuster naming a "preferred" shop is making a suggestion. They still work with us if you bring the car here.
At the scene
Get the responding officer's name, and make sure they have your version of what happened. The report is what the insurance companies will work from later.
Name, phone, address, insurance company and policy number, plate number, and the make and model of their vehicle. Photograph all of it if you can. It is faster, and it does not misremember.
Both vehicles, all angles, the position of the cars, the road and any skid marks or debris. Photos taken before anything is moved are worth more than any description written afterward.
Tell them where the vehicle can be inspected for damages. If you already know you want it repaired here, tell them that. You do not need their permission to pick us.
Questions drivers ask us
Do I have to use the shop my insurance company recommends?
No. Michigan leaves that choice with you. An adjuster may point at a "preferred" shop, sometimes firmly, but it is your car and your decision. Tell them where it is going and give us the claim number. We deal with them from that point on.
Do I need to get more than one estimate?
No. One is enough under Michigan law. If an insurer asks you to go and gather two or three more, you are entitled to say no.
Will the repair void my factory warranty?
Factory-correct repairs are done specifically so your vehicle's warranties stay intact. Structural work is measured against the manufacturer's own dimensions rather than repaired to a visual match, which is the part that matters both for the warranty and for how the vehicle behaves in a second collision.
How long will my repair take?
It depends on the damage, on parts availability, and on how quickly your insurer approves the estimate and any supplements. What we can promise is that you get our best estimate on the time frame up front, and that you hear from us as the work moves. You should never have to call and ask where your car is.
Do you work with my insurance company?
We work with all major insurance companies and have for decades. Bring us the claim number. Our staff handles the estimate and any supplements with your adjuster.
Can I get a rental car while my vehicle is being repaired?
Rental car availability is one of the things we offer. Whether the rental is covered depends on your policy. Tell us who you are insured with and we can tell you what to expect.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. Estimates are free and written, and we do them in person — a shop that prices a repair off a photo is guessing at what is behind the panel. Drive it to 3300 24th Ave in Hudsonville any weekday between 8:00 and 5:00; no appointment is needed. If you would rather have a set time, call (616) 896-8000 and we will book one.
Bringing it to us
Call before you sign anything.
Estimates are free.