How to Get Your Car Repaired After an Accident

After a car accident, the immediate concern is safety and medical care. But once the dust settles, you’re left with another major problem, getting your car repaired and figuring out who pays for it.

At Big Auto Accident Attorneys, our team has helped clients through this process every day. Whether you’re dealing with your own insurance company or the at-fault driver’s, it’s critical to understand your rights before signing anything or authorizing repairs.

Here’s what to do, step by step, to get your car repaired after a crash in Arizona.

Step 1: Report the Accident and File a Claim

After an accident, you’ll usually start with an insurance claim, either with your own insurer or the at-fault driver’s company.

• If the other driver was clearly at fault, their liability insurance should cover your repair costs.
  
• If fault is unclear or disputed, you can file under your own collision coverage (if you have it), and your insurer can later seek reimbursement from the other company.

Arizona requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person
  
• $50,000 per accident
  
• $15,000 for property damage

If the damage exceeds those limits, your car accident attorney can pursue additional recovery through a personal injury or property damage claim.

Step 2: Get a Damage Assessment

The insurance company will usually send an adjuster to inspect your vehicle. Their goal is to estimate repair costs, but keep in mind, they represent the insurer’s interests, not yours.

You’re entitled to:

• Choose your own repair shop. Arizona law protects your right to select where your vehicle is repaired.
  
• Request multiple estimates. If you suspect the insurer’s estimate is too low, get an independent quote.
  
• Ask for OEM parts. If your car is newer, you may want to insist on original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts instead of cheaper aftermarket replacements.

If the adjuster deems your car a total loss (meaning repairs cost more than the car’s value), you’ll be offered its actual cash value (ACV), what the car was worth just before the crash, not what it costs to replace it.

Step 3: Know How Repairs Are Paid

There are typically two ways car repair payments happen:

1. Direct repair network: The insurance company pays a partnered body shop directly.
   
2. Reimbursement: You pay for repairs and submit receipts to the insurer for reimbursement.

Either way, make sure you receive and keep written documentation for every step, estimates, invoices, and communication with the insurer. This helps if disputes arise later or if your lawyer needs to intervene.

Step 4: Don’t Sign Away Your Rights

Insurance companies often try to wrap things up quickly. They may offer to pay for repairs in exchange for signing a release form, but read the fine print carefully.

Some releases go beyond property damage and may also waive your right to pursue injury claims later. If you’re unsure, don’t sign anything until you’ve spoken with an attorney.

Step 5: Rental Cars and “Loss of Use”

If you rely on your vehicle for daily transportation, you can claim rental car coverage or loss of use damages while your car is being repaired or replaced.

• If the other driver is at fault, their insurer must typically cover your rental costs for a reasonable time.
  
• If you have rental reimbursement coverage, your own insurer can also cover it, regardless of fault.

Your attorney can help ensure you’re fully compensated for time without your car, not just the repair itself.

Step 6: Handle Diminished Value Claims

Even after repairs, your vehicle may lose market value simply because it has an accident history. In Arizona, you can pursue a diminished value claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer to recover that loss.

This requires evidence, often from a professional appraiser, showing your car’s pre-accident and post-repair values. Many insurers resist paying these claims, which is where legal representation makes a real difference.

Step 7: Let a Lawyer Deal With the Insurance Company

While minor fender-benders can be handled directly with insurance, serious crashes, especially those involving injuries, should always involve a lawyer.

At Big Auto Accident Attorneys, our team handles:

• Property damage disputes
  
• Diminished value claims
  
• Total loss disagreements
  
• Injury-related compensation and medical bills
  
• Negotiations with multiple insurers

We make sure the insurer pays everything they owe, not just for your car, but for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering, too.

Arizona’s Deadlines for Car Accident Claims

The statute of limitations for property damage in Arizona is two years from the date of the accident. The same timeline applies to personal injury claims. Missing that window could forfeit your right to compensation.

However, evidence like repair estimates and photos should be gathered immediately. Insurers and repair shops rarely keep records long-term, and vehicle condition changes quickly.

Get Help from a Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer

If you’re struggling with repairs, delays, or lowball offers from an insurance company, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to accept less than you deserve.

Call 844 BIG AUTO (844-244-2886) to speak with a Phoenix car accident lawyer at Big Auto Accident Attorneys, or visit our office at:

Big Auto Accident Attorneys3550 N Central Ave, Suite 550
Phoenix, AZ 85012

We’ll handle the insurers and get your car, and your life, back on track.
Big injuries need big results.

Content reviewed by managing attorney, Nic Edgson. Nic has been an Arizona-licensed lawyer for more than a decade and focuses his law practice on helping people seriously injured in car accidents and truck accidents. He has represented thousands of clients and recovered more than $50 Million Dollars fighting for their injuries and medical bills. Throughout his legal career, Nic has helped those injured through some of the most difficult times in their lives.