Were you in a car accident in Santa Monica that was another driver's fault? You have the choice of going through your insurance company or the other driver's insurance company on your repairs. Which should you go through?
IF OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY ACCEPTS FAULT RIGHT OFF THE BAT
If the at-fault driver's insurance carrier immediately accepts fault, then you may want to go through that insurance company on your repairs. The advantage of going through the other driver's carrier is that you don't have to pony up your deductible to get your vehicle repaired.
Another advantage of going through the other driver's carrier is that they may be willing to set you up in a rental car on a direct billing basis while your vehicle is being repaired. That means the car rental shop direct bills the insurance company; you don't have to put the rental on your credit card, and get reimbursement later. Not all insurance companies offer direct billing on rental cars. You should speak with a car accident lawyer to find out if this is an option in your case.
IF THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY DOES NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY RIGHT OFF THE BAT
Unless your car accident involved a rear-end collision or the other driver admitted to his carrier that he was at fault, it is likely that there will be a delay before the other driver's insurance company accepts fault. They will need time to investigate the accident to determine liability. Before deciding liability, the insurance company will want to interview their insured, interview you (do not agree to be interviewed!), interview any witnesses, and get a copy of the police report, if one was made. If the Los Angeles Police Department did a police report in your case, it will likely take 12 to 16 weeks until the police report is ready. If the other driver's insurance company refuses to accept fault until they see the police report, you could be waiting quite a while until your car is repaired.
To avoid that delay, you will probably want to go through your insurance company, provided you have collision coverage. Collision coverage will pay for the repair of your car, and repairs can begin immediatley. The only down side is that you will have to pay your deductible (typically $500 ro $1,000 - check your policy). Once the other driver's insurance company concludes their investigation and accepts fault, they will reimburse you on your deductible.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, call the Santa Monica Car Accident Attorneys at McGee, Lerer & Associates. Don't be stuck without transporation while the other driver's insurance company strings you along. You need your car to get medical treatment. Without transportation to get to medical treatment, you play into the insurance company's hands. They will use your delay in getting medical treatment against you, by claiming that you weren't really hurt, or you would have sought treatment sooner.
Don't let the insurance company take advantage of you. You need an experienced Santa Monica personal injury lawyer on your side. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis: if there is no recovery, you pay us nothing.