IF YOU SUFFER A SERIOUS INJURY IN A CAR ACCIDENT, PLEASE CONTACT US TO FIND OUT WHAT YOUR INJURY IS WORTH BEFORE TALKING TO AN INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE.
Getting into an accident on a California freeway or boulevard will understandably leave you shaken and perhaps dealing with pain from a serious injury. While facing a difficult recovery, the frustration of trying to get your car fixed or replaced will be the last thing you need.
The good news is that California has put laws and resources into place to protect drivers who must seek help at a repair or body shop.
Licensed Auto Shops in California
California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) regulates and enforces auto repair protocol for consumers. For starters, anyone looking for car repair or bodywork should check for the BAR seal of approval. Auto shops in California must have a repair dealer license issued by BAR to perform repairs and maintenance.
The BAR makes it easy to check to see if a particular auto shop is properly licensed. Accident victims can use the Check the License feature on the CA.gov website. If you don’t have a mechanic in mind you could also use the site’s Auto Shop Locator to help find one.
The BAR also advises that people using mobile auto repair services make sure to check for a license.
Rights For California Car Repair Customers
California’s Automotive Repair Act was enacted in 1971 to put a stop to some of the unfair practices some automotive repair shops engage in.
These practices included the act of making additional repairs to cars without the owner’s consent. The owner would then have to pay the bill or risk having the repair business keep the car. Another rampant issue was how some shops would use used parts but charge customers for new ones.
The act applies penalties to shops engaging in these and other unscrupulous practices. You have rights when you step into an auto repair business. The BAR’s handy Auto Repairs Basics page lists these rights and other tips.
The consumer’s rights include:
- The right to an estimate. The auto repair business must provide a written estimate on parts and labor and get you to sign off on them. Sales tax is not included in the estimate.
- The right to a repair invoice. Once the work is done, a thorough invoice of the work performed and the charges for each service must be provided. The estimate and the final invoice can differ but there must be a clear reason for the change in price and you should be forewarned about the extra charges.
- The right to your parts. You are allowed to ask to receive the parts that were removed and replaced.
There are other tips in California’s Consumer’s Guide to Auto Repair and information about what to do if you feel your rights have been ignored.
How Can I Check to See If Repairs Were Completed After a California Car Accident?
After a California traffic collision, you may have major damage that’s plain to see and some damage that’s harder to spot.
The same is true of repairs. You’ll have some improvements that are easily noticed. But some fixes are under hoods, behind bumpers, and performed behind other body parts. Unless you are a mechanic yourself, the actual work will be hard to see and confirm.
When you have doubts about the service you received or experience continued problems with your car, there is a way to get a fair appraisal of what’s going on. The BAR’s Auto Body Inspection Program offers a no-cost inspection of collision-related damage. A state-certified expert goes over the damages from an accident to determine if the repairs that you were charged for were actually performed.
Car Warranties and California’s Lemon Law
There may be manufacturer or dealership warranties on your vehicle. When something goes wrong and these entities want to charge you for repairs that should be covered, a complaint can be made to the BAR.
The emissions system on your car is one such example that should carry a warranty that’s mandated by state and federal law. When an emissions system breaks down before the warranty is up, manufacturers are often on the hook to pay for repairs.
The California Lemon Law covers new and used vehicles sold or leased in the state that come backed by a manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty. It applies to situations where a dealer or manufacturer is unable to fix defects covered by the warranty in a “reasonable” number of attempts.
You have the right to ask for a new vehicle or your money back. When a dealer or manufacturer is unwilling to replace the vehicle or refund you, then an arbitrator is brought in at no cost to you. The arbitrator is monitored by the state and makes a decision on if reimbursement or a new vehicle is owed.
Making a Complaint Over California Auto Shop Issues
If you feel you’ve received unfair treatment from a repair or body shop, you should contact California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair. You may have been charged much more than you agreed to, or you may suspect the repairs weren’t complete.
You can file a complaint online or print and file a written complaint. Be sure to have the name, address, and phone number of the auto repair shop in question. Try to get the repair dealer license number of the business involved. You’ll work with a BAR representative to seek a resolution to your concerns.
Contact a California Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been in a car accident that involves only property damage, you probably won’t need a lawyer to secure fair treatment in earning compensation for car repairs or replacement. Car body and repair work after an accident has become fairly standardized.
But if you suffer a serious injury in an accident caused by a careless driver, please speak with a skilled California Car Accident Lawyer before you talk with an insurance company. An expensive medical recovery may cause an at-fault driver’s insurance provider to seek ways to avoid taking responsibility for your pain. Schedule a free case consultation with a real California lawyer to find out what your injury is worth so that you can demand full benefits from an insurance adjuster.
