Why a Post-Repair Inspection is So Important
If you’ve been in an accident, you’ve probably taken your vehicle to a collision repair shop (body shop), with the expectation that they would repair your vehicle to the way it was before the accident. This state of repair is known to the industry as pre-loss condition.
What you may not know, however, is that your expectation of pre-loss condition and that of the insurance company who is paying for the repair may be very, very different. And who is to say, after all, what pre-loss condition really means? And finally, how do you know that it has been achieved? We’ll answer all of those questions below.
First of all – let’s get to the definition of pre-loss condition. According to USLegal.com, pre-loss condition is “a term used by insurance companies to describe the condition of a [residence] or vehicle prior to damage. It is the act of restoring the vehicle or [residence] to the condition it was before the damage was caused.” Sounds simple enough, right? Read on.
If the body shop repairing your vehicle or the insurance company paying for the repair is solving for the least-expensive repair, they may cut corners by ordering non-OEM (original equipment manufactured) parts to replace the original parts that were damaged. Are aftermarket parts exactly the same as OEM parts? No, they are not. So… by using these less expensive parts, is the shop really restoring your vehicle to its pre-loss condition? No, they are not.
And what if, as happens often in the collision industry, the body shop cuts corners with the quality of your repair? Poorly performed repairs and overlooked or remaining damages may cause hidden structural damages, which may prevent the car from performing or reacting as originally engineered. The safety of the occupants is at stake, which is why we always recommend a post-repair inspection.
A post-repair inspection by an independent entity such as Auto Damage Experts is a solid way to achieve peace of mind when it comes to the quality of your repair. Auto Damage Experts performs inspections of vehicles that have sustained damage, and undergone corrective repairs. We will tell you the truth about your repair – and if necessary, we’ll help you get it fixed right and/or receive compensation via the diminished value clause in many insurance policies.
Don’t become a victim of negligence and/or fraud. Have your repaired vehicle inspected by an expert. If your repair is not becoming to you… you should be coming to us at Auto Damage Experts.
** See David Smith, of Auto Damage Experts present, “Why You Should Embrace Post-Repair Inspections”, presented by SCRS.com at The SEMA Show in Las Vegas on October 31st, 9:30 AM.
