Certified Auto Body is a family-owned, customer service-focused, collision repair shop in Lake Bluff that has served the North Shore for more than 40 years. Debbie Borsic has handled the marketing and management efforts for her brother-in-law Jack Lasheff’s shop since 1989. Here are her tips for what to do if you’re in an accident on the road—and how to protect yourself against future ones.
Step 1: Collect all the necessary information
“If you’re in an accident, take a picture of the other person’s insurance card—not the AAA card. Also take a picture of their driver’s license, license plates, and any damage to their car and your car. Make sure you take note of the make and model. And always try to exchange phone numbers. We can file a claim much faster and easier if we have all of those things.”
Step 2: File the right claim—or don’t file at all
“Even if you’re at fault in an accident, we’ll still call your insurance company to see what we can do. We can also walk you through the pros and cons of filing versus not filing. We’re able to check deductible amounts and accident history to help you do the math and see what’s best. If you have a $1,000 deductible and the repair costs $1,500, it’s better to pay out of pocket because the insurance company could raise your rates.”
Step 3: Know the benefits of a lifetime warranty
“For any parts damaged in a collision—or even from severe weather such as hail—that we repair, we go beyond the manufacturer’s warranty by offering a lifetime warranty on the part. We also offer a lifetime warranty on any paint applied to the part.”
Step 4: Consider an insurance guard subscription, especially if you have teens
“We offer a one-year Auto Guard subscription for repairs that cost $3,000 or less and a two-year subscription for repairs that cost more—for all cars in a household, even if you only brought one in. That means if you’re in an accident, and then another driver in the household has an accident in the same year or two with a different car, we offer rebates of $500 or more for the repairs to reduce out-of-pocket costs. We pay for these extended coverage plans, but to us, it’s a small thank-you to our customers and repeat customers.”
Even if you’re at fault in an accident, we’ll still call your insurance company to see what we can do