Tyler Gross | June 13, 2025 | Personal Injury
Modern vehicles are designed to prevent passengers from suffering catastrophic injuries during collisions. Unfortunately, one of the main ways they protect passengers is by taking more damage in certain areas. This means that your vehicle is likely to need significant repairs after a Pensacola car accident.
Navigating the insurance process and getting your vehicle fixed can seem daunting. Experienced auto repair lawyers can help make the necessary steps more accessible. Here is some information you need to know about vehicle damage, repairs, and maintenance.
Determining the Cause of the Vehicle Damage
The first thing your automotive lawyer will do is determine the precise cause of the vehicle damage. Common causes include:
- Poor road conditions
- Negligent driving
- Manufacturing defects
- Maintenance errors
Different events and conditions can result in different types of damage. For example, a pothole is more likely to cause suspension damage, while tailgating could result in rear body damage.
Car repair attorneys can identify the cause and type of damage to evaluate the cost of repairing your vehicle and pinpoint the party that should pay for it.
Assessing the Damage
The next step is to assess the cost of the damage. This will require a detailed analysis of how much damage your vehicle incurred and how difficult it is to repair. Even reasonably mild damage can be costly to fix if parts for the vehicle are hard to find or few mechanics have the skill to repair it.
The following types of vehicle damage, which range from minor to severe, may be seen after a car accident in Pensacola:
- Paint damage
- Dents or scratches
- Fender damage
- Frame damage
- Engine or transmission damage
While Florida is a no-fault insurance state, this statute only applies to personal injury claims, not to property damage claims. Every driver in the state is required to purchase at least $10,000 of property damage insurance.
The responsible driver’s property damage policy will compensate you for any vehicle repairs. The insurance company will independently analyze the damage and offer compensation based on its assessment.
Your attorney will document the process they use to make that assessment to ensure that everything is fair and above board. If there’s a conflict, they’ll attempt to negotiate a fair settlement.
The Repair Process
Once you’ve received a fair estimate of the cost of repairing your vehicle, it will be time to actually get it fixed. Typically, the insurance company will recommend a repair shop. You don’t have to use the recommended business, but choosing another shop might affect your claim.
The most important factor in choosing a repair shop is whether it will provide high-quality repairs. This is particularly important if you have a high-end model or a specialty vehicle like a motorcycle.
Unfortunately, repairing a vehicle is rarely a speedy process — even minor jobs may take several days. If the damage is particularly severe, you could be looking at a repair time of several weeks. You may need to rent a car while waiting to get your vehicle back. Depending on your policy, your insurance might cover this expense.
Post-Repair Maintenance
While Florida doesn’t require yearly inspections of vehicles like many states, it has laws that prohibit unsafe vehicles from driving on public roads.
To avoid violating these laws, you should plan on having your vehicle inspected as soon as all necessary repairs are complete. Doing so will certify that the repairs have been performed adequately. It will also provide you with written evidence that you made a good-faith effort to make sure your vehicle was safe for use on public roads.
Additionally, you should continue to get routine maintenance and keep records of each tune-up for the rest of the vehicle’s life.
Get Back on the Road Quickly
Sustaining vehicle damage in an accident is always inconvenient. However, it doesn’t have to completely disrupt your life or budget. By following the steps outlined here, you should be able to get back on the road quickly, safely, and with minimal cost.
If you’ve been in an accident and suffered vehicle damage, reach out to Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in North Florida
If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced car accident lawyers in Florida at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have five convenient locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview, Milton, and Mary Esther.
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Pensacola Office
803 N Palafox St
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 434-3333
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Navarre Office
9933 Navarre Pkwy
Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: (850) 757-2898
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Crestview Office
1501 S Ferdon Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
Phone: (850) 407-7726
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Milton Office
6373 US-90
Milton, FL 32570
Phone: (850) 790-7790
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Mary Esther Office
151 Mary Esther Blvd Suite 103A
Mary Esther, FL 32569
Phone: (850) 809-0170