Expert: Michael Kakuk - 12/24/2009

Question
Awoman backed into my 98 firebird it tweeked the front end toward the passanger side and cracked the bumbper.And the passanger rim slamed into the curb after she hit it and now my car shakes if i go over 40 milels an hour .Mercury told me to get an estemate and they would send the ckeck to the auto body shop and not to me is that the proper procedure.

Answer
MICHAEL.....THATS FINE IF THEY SEND THE CHECK TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS AND THEY MOST LIKELY WILL DISCOVER ADDITIONAL DAMAGES ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TORN DOWN.

THE INITIAL ESTIMATE IS NOT FULL AND FINAL. ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGES THAT ARE FOUND THE SHOP WILL CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND ONCE APPROVED THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY THEM DIRECT.

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE THAT REPAIR FACILITY NOTIFY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
THEY MAY SEND THE INITIAL ESTIMATE CHECK TO YOUR PREFERRED SHOP.