Erik Reyna

After a car accident in Huntington Beach, stop, check for injuries, call for emergency assistance when needed, and move out of traffic when it is safe. Exchange information, photograph the scene, preserve witness details, understand where the vehicle will be towed, notify the appropriate insurer, and complete any required California DMV reporting. Protect people first,...

There is no single percentage by which car insurance increases after an accident in California. The amount depends on whether the driver was principally at fault, the insurer’s approved rating plan, the driver’s accident and violation history, current discounts, annual mileage, years of driving experience, and other permitted factors. An accident-related increase generally appears at...

Yes. In California, you may choose the collision repair shop that repairs your vehicle after an accident. An insurance company generally cannot require you to use one specific automotive repair facility. The insurer may recommend a repair facility under certain conditions, but the claimant has the right to select the repair shop. This generally applies...

If an insurance company approves less than the repair facility says the accident repairs will cost, do not immediately assume you must pay the entire difference. The unpaid amount may be: Included in a supplement still under review Waiting for additional documentation Formally disputed or denied Your policy deductible Limited or excluded by the policy...

An insurance estimate and an auto body shop estimate may show different repair totals because they are usually created by different parties, at different stages, and with different information. The insurance estimate is generally the insurer’s initial assessment of the accident damage it can see or document. The body shop estimate describes the repairs the...

After an insurance adjuster inspects your car, the adjuster generally prepares or completes an initial damage estimate and sends the claim through the insurer’s review process. Depending on the inspection and claim status, the insurer may: Proceed with covered repairs Request additional information Continue investigating coverage or fault Evaluate the vehicle as a possible total...

Some straightforward claims may reach the inspection, estimate, or repair-review stage within several business days, while more complex claims can take several weeks or longer. There is no single statewide timeline for completing an auto insurance claim or collision repair. Delays may occur when liability or coverage is disputed, hidden damage requires a supplemental estimate,...

Yes. In many situations, you can have an accident-damaged vehicle towed directly to the body shop you plan to use. Direct delivery is often the most practical option because it can help avoid an unnecessary second tow, reduce time in a storage yard, and place the vehicle at the facility where its condition can be...

A flatbed tow truck is commonly the safest choice for an accident-damaged car because all four wheels remain off the road during transportation. A flatbed is generally preferred when a wheel, axle, steering component, suspension part, drivetrain component, or underbody area may be damaged; when the vehicle cannot roll, steer, or shift into neutral; or...

If the car is leaking fluid, pulling to one side, making unusual sounds, overheating, showing serious warning lights, rubbing a tire, or behaving differently when steering or braking, it should generally be towed instead of driven. A car should be towed after an accident whenever collision damage may affect its steering, braking, tires, wheels, visibility,...