After a road accident, the question quickly arises: Who actually pays the repair costs - and how do you get your money reimbursed in full? Basically, if you are not at fault for the accident, the liability insurance of the person responsible will cover the costs. However, it is crucial that the damage is correctly determined and that your claims are properly asserted.
In this article, you will find out what is important when it comes to the reimbursement of repair costs, what role expert reports and the choice of garage play and how you can avoid insurance companies reducing justified claims.
- In the event of an accident through no fault of your own, the liability insurance of the person responsible for the accident will cover the repair costs.
- An independent expert opinion is the most important basis for enforcing your claims in full.
- As the injured party, you have a free choice of garage - don't let the insurance company steer you.
- Insurance companies often reduce individual items - a professional review of your claims is worthwhile.
Essential: Have accident damage correctly determined
To the Safeyour requirements, it is compelling It is necessary to have the damage assessed correctly. The safest way for you is an expert report. An expert documents and analyses the accident damage and describes the steps and time required to complete the repair. This is the basis for your claims settlement. At the same time, you will receive a reliable statement on the amount of your loss of use claim. In the article Expert opinion after road accident you will find a Compilation of all information on the subject of expert reports for accident damage.
fairforce.one gives you access to tried and tested independent experts. Report your accident damage here. We will take care of everything else and ensure the best possible claims settlement for you.
Accident victims in your situation simply get the best support from fairforce.one.
Important: Who pays the repair costs after a road accident?
Are you the injured party in the traffic accident? In this constellation, the liability insurance of the person responsible for the accident is liable to pay benefits. You will be compensated within the scope of damages.
Did you cause the accident? Then this is a case for your comprehensive insurance or your own wallet.
As you can see from this, clarifying the question of fault is essential, as this determines which insurance will apply in the event of an accident. With fairforce.one, you will receive a free initial assessment of the apportionment of blame within 24 hours of receiving your assessable accident report. Best of all, we guarantee that you will not be charged for this.
The basic requirement for an insurance company to cover the damage is that the accident was not caused intentionally. In addition, the damage must be reported in good time. The insurance company should know about the accident within 14 days. We will be happy to take care of the damage report to your insurance company and check your claims.
Accident victims in your situation simply get the best support from fairforce.one.
Depending on the cause of the accident, customers receive an average of €4802 Additional payment
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Deciding in favour of a repair: Is there a workshop commitment?
If you are the injured party in the accident, the insurance company of the party responsible is the addressee for your claims. Communication with the claims departments of the various insurers is one of the most important simplifications for users of fairforce.one.
When it comes to choosing a repair workshop, you have the right to choose the workshop where you want the accident damage to be repaired. In this constellation, there is no obligation to choose a workshop.
The situation is different in the case of comprehensive damage, i.e. damage that you have caused yourself. In this case, there could be a workshop commitment. Check the conditions in your insurance contract. If the insurance company stipulates that your vehicle must be repaired in a workshop, you must have it repaired in the workshop specified by the insurance company. We generally advise against insurance contracts with workshop commitment. Experience from many thousands of insurance cases shows that the discounts granted in these tariffs are regularly disproportionate to the loss of benefits you risk in the event of a claim.
What should you do if the insurance company reduces your claims for repair costs after an accident?
The insurance company naturally wants to keep its expenses as low as possible and therefore regularly reduces claims. Typical points that are quickly cancelled and that your workshop fights for afterwards:
- Small parts flat rate (washers, glue, clasps, etc.)
- Transport costs (from the car dealership to the paint shop and back)
- Test drive after the repair (test for function and e.g. wind noise)
Due to the fact that not every material can be assigned to a specific order, the workshop has the option of Small parts flat rate to be claimed. This flat rate applies to consumables such as Lubricants, adhesive tape and cleaning agents and can be recognised in the amount of 2 % of the repair costs.
The ongoing development of technology makes test drives irreplaceable. Today, vehicles are equipped with distance-keeping cruise control, blind spot assistants or lane keeping systems. A “drive round the block” is no longer sufficient to check the vehicle for full functionality after repairs. Safety demands more extensive test drives. Your dealership is regularly faced with the challenge of getting this necessary work paid for by the insurance company.
Items that can be allocated to repairs are often cancelled by the insurance company. We - the team at fairforce.one - check your claims directly and secure them with our network of experts. Have your claim checked now.
Accident victims like you get the best support from fairforce.one.
Have your accident reported now free of charge and without obligation by our regulation specialists.
Decision against a repair: Does the accident damage have to be repaired?
It is not absolutely necessary to have the vehicle involved in the accident repaired. If you decide not to have the vehicle repaired, you are still entitled to compensation for the repair costs. If you do not have the car repaired and have your claims paid out, this is referred to as a “Fictitious settlement”.
From our daily practice, we are aware of many objections from insurance companies. The basic principle of fictitious settlement is that no distinction is made between costs incurred and costs not incurred. It only depends on what costs would have been incurred if you had had the repair carried out.
With fairforce.one, you therefore also have access to experienced specialists for your complete fictitious settlement and payout.
Only if you are the owner of the vehicle can you decide for yourself whether or not to have the car repaired. In the case of leased or financed vehicles, the leasing company or the bank is the owner. In this case, it is not you - but the owner - who decides on the repair procedure.
The right steps for fair claims settlement
Have you been involved in an accident through no fault of your own? Then play it safe and contact us directly:
- Our competent team of experts will discuss the right next steps with you.
- If required, we can organise an expert to come to your home. He will prepare the important independent expert opinion
- Your full claims are calculated by specialised teams of lawyers using our software
- Your optimised claims are asserted with the insurance companies liable to pay benefits and paid out for you
- If required, our network of tested, reliable specialist workshops and replacement vehicles will support you
- You will be kept up to date on all regulatory progress via our innovative HIS (customer information system).
We can't undo your accident. But we will make the best of it for you, we promise!
Frequently asked questions about repair costs after an accident
Who pays the repair costs after an accident?
In the event of an accident that was not your fault, the liability insurance of the person who caused the accident will cover the repair costs. If you caused the accident yourself, your fully comprehensive insurance will cover the costs, depending on the contract.
Do I need an expert opinion for the claims settlement?
Yes, an independent expert report is highly recommended. It documents the damage, quantifies the repair costs and serves as a basis for the full enforcement of your claims.
Am I free to choose the workshop?
Yes, as the injured party, you generally have a free choice of garage. A workshop commitment only exists for comprehensive damage if this has been contractually agreed.
Do I have to have my vehicle repaired at all?
No. You can also have the repair costs paid out to you (so-called fictitious settlement). In this case, you will receive the amount calculated in the expert opinion - even without the actual repair.
Why does the insurance company often reduce the repair costs?
Insurance companies often try to reduce costs by cancelling individual items (e.g. transport costs or small parts). It is therefore worth having your claims professionally checked.
