Hoernis Auto Body

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. Do not be intimidated when dealing with them. Your insurance company agrees to provide agreed upon services in return for the premiums that you pay to them. It is your money and your contract with the insurance company. Insist that your needs as a customer are met. Do not allow your insurance agent to minimize the claim situation.

Insurance companies are required to deal with you "in good faith." If you believe an insurance company is NOT dealing with you in a fair and equitable manner, you can contact the office of the Office of the Department of Transportation:

Office of the Department of Transportation
3215 Executive Park Dr.
Springfield, Illinois 62766
217-782-4518

In serious accidents, city, county, or state police at the scene will often complete a State of Illinois Vehicle Collision Report. The operator or owner of any vehicle involved in a collision within the State of Illinois in which any person is injured, including one's self, or in which any person's property sustains damages in the amount of $500.00 or more, is required to complete a collision report form. This includes out-of-state drivers operating their own or a rental vehicle.

Illinois State laws protect your rights as the owner of the vehicle. This means that you have the right to have your vehicle repaired at the repair facility of your choice. Insurance companies are prohibited from mandating that you use the repair facility of their choice. Even though many insurance companies have contractual arrangements with local repair facilities, you do not have to use their service. You have every right to thoroughly investigate and evaluate repair facilities.

State laws do NOT require you to get more than one estimate, but you may want to do so to assure that you are getting the appropriate service. If you have had previous experience with a collision repair facility and would like to have them do the work, your insurance company must accept that repair facility's reasonable repair estimate. This is the case even if it is the only estimate you obtain.

Claim Number - The legal tracking number for your property damage claim with the insurance company

Claimant - A person/party determined to be NOT at fault

Insured - A person/party determined to be at fault

Personal Injury - Any injury to any passenger(s), pedestrians, or others. Personal injury claims can be initiated up to three years after an accident.

Property Damage - Damage to a vehicle, buildings, landscaping or other property. Property damage claims can be resolved independently of personal injury claims.

DRP - Direct Repair facility—a repair facility that has contracted with an insurance company for referral work. Most DRPs are reputable collision repair services—but the insurance company is their customer, NOT you. Make sure you are the customer that the collision repair facility has to satisfy.

You are entitled to have your vehicle restored to its pre-accident condition. That means using (Original Equipment Manufacturers) OEM-manufactured parts (not after-market or used parts), computerized paint matching (for exact model and factory run of your vehicle), and all the other details that make a difference in the years of service you expect from your vehicle.

Newer model automobiles are more complicated and can be more costly to repair. Unibody construction, advanced electronic systems, and safety devices such as air bags mean repairs are more involved and often require the replacement of other related components parts to insure the integrity and proper operation of the vehicle. Repair estimates are often lengthy and filled with automotive-specific terms.

Question anything that may be unclear to you! A reputable repair service operation will take the necessary time to explain what is required to make the repairs to your vehicle.