Since bringing a dog along for a car ride is common practice today, many municipalities have made law about restraining a dog while in the car. Now the law varies from place to place, and to find the law for your area, you would probably have to look online. Some states do not practice dog constraint laws, but others do. There are other laws regarding leaving unattended pets in a parked car and driving with a dog on your lap, but again this law varies from place to place. Learn more about some of these laws here.

Triple AAA suggests certain security measures be taken to ensure the dog’s safety. This includes restraining your dog, especially for long distance car rides. Also, they stress the importance of putting your pooch in the backseat because an airbag’s force could kill your beloved pet. Some smaller dogs could even go flying if the car is stopped short enough or in a serious enough accident, in which the driver, other passengers, and the dog are at a greater risk.

To read more about what Triple AAA suggests, click here.

At Romero’s Tri-Valley Auto Body, we are committed to serving the community, so our customers get the results they deserve. If you need guidance through the collision repair process, we are here to help alleviate any concerns you may have. Don’t forget to keep yourself and your furry friends safe in the car and on the road!

Visit us at 3529 1st Street Livermore, CA 94551, or call us at 925.443.8548. Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Contact us here.

Immediately after
The first thing to do in any accident is to make sure that all parties involved are safe and uninjured. If someone is injured, call 911 before anything else. It is important to remember to keep calm and don’t panic. Once you realized you have been in an accident, even if everyone is okay, call 911. Or, better yet, call your local police station if it is not an emergency. Having both numbers handy on quick dial is a good practice. No matter how big or small the accident, a police report is always required, so don’t leave the scene without one.

Once the Police have arrived
Tell the officer who arrives exactly what happened. Wait for them to file the police report and call a tow truck if any of the vehicles involved are no longer drivable. Get the insurance information of everyone involved.

After your vehicle is removed from the accident scene
Have your car brought to a shop of your choice, but if you don’t have one in mind, ask your insurance company where to go. They will give you a list of shops they recommend since they have an existing relationship. Either way, it is still your decision where you send your car.

Once your car is in a shop being repaired
Be patient. Vehicles today are complex in more ways than imaginable. Repairs may be lengthy but well worth the wait when you’re back on the road safe! Read more about what to do after an accident here.

When you are back on the road
Drive safe, and always stay alert. Keep emergency numbers in your phone and insurance paperwork in your glovebox. Some insurance companies have phone pocket apps that are handy in times like these making it easy to access insurance information quickly. No one is prepared for an accident so it’s a good idea to be ready for the unexpected so you’re not floundering looking for things in your time of need.

At Tri-Valley Auto Body, we are committed to serving the community, so our customers get the results they deserve. If you need guidance through the collision repair process, we are here to help alleviate any concerns you may have.

Visit us at 3529 1st Street Livermore, CA 94551, or call us at 925.443.8548. Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Contact us here.

Insurance companies are not allowed to steer their customers or require that you take your business to a particular auto collision repair facility. Although they can “recommend” auto body shops, the insurance adjusters CANNOT REQUIRE you to use a specific repair facility or to select from a list of their “preferred” shops, in their Direct Repair Program. If you feel your insurance company is steering you or requiring you to take your vehicle to a body shop in their Direct Repair Program you can report the adjuster to your state insurance commissioner, and rightfully so.

As noted from the California Department of Insurance, you, the consumer, have the right to use any licensed repair facility that you choose. You cannot be forced to take your vehicle to any particular auto collision repair facility. You may choose your own place, but then there may be consequences that you may not like, as explained below. See California Department of Insurance.

For more information we are sharing Section 2695.85. of California laws surrounding the Auto Body Repair Consumer Bill of Rights
(a) Every insurer that issues automobile liability or collision insurance policies shall provide the named insured(s) with an Auto Body Repair Consumer Bill of Rights either at the time of application for an automobile insurance policy, at the time a policy is issued, or following an accident or loss that is reported to the insurer. If the insurer provides the insured with an electronic copy of a policy, the bill of rights may also be transmitted electronically. If the insurer provides the bill of rights following an accident or loss, the insurer shall also provide the bill of rights to the particular insured filing the insurance claim. If the insurer provides the bill of rights at the time of application or policy issuance, all named insureds that have not previously received the bill of rights shall be provided with a copy upon renewal of the policy.

(b) The requirements set forth in subsection 2695.85(a), above, shall apply to all automobile liability and collision insurance policies issued in California including commercial automobile, private passenger automobile, and motorcycle insurance policies.

(c) The Auto Body Repair Consumer Bill of Rights shall be a separate standardized document and plainly printed in no less than ten-point type. An insurer may distribute the form using its own letterhead, but the language of the Auto Body Repair Consumer Bill of Rights shall be developed by the California Department of Insurance and shall read as follows:

AUTO BODY REPAIR CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS
A CONSUMER IS ENTITLED TO:

1. SELECT THE AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP TO REPAIR AUTO BODY DAMAGE COVERED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. AN INSURANCE COMPANY SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE REPAIRS TO BE DONE AT A SPECIFIC AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP.
2. AN ITEMIZED WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR AUTO BODY REPAIRS AND, UPON COMPLETION OF REPAIRS, A DETAILED INVOICE. THE ESTIMATE AND THE INVOICE MUST INCLUDE AN ITEMIZED LIST OF PARTS AND LABOR ALONG WITH THE TOTAL PRICE FOR THE WORK PERFORMED. THE ESTIMATE AND INVOICE MUST ALSO IDENTIFY ALL PARTS AS NEW, USED, AFTERMARKET, RECONDITIONED, OR REBUILT.
3. BE INFORMED ABOUT COVERAGE FOR TOWING AND STORAGE SERVICES.
4. BE INFORMED ABOUT THE EXTENT OF COVERAGE, IF ANY, FOR A REPLACEMENT RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE A DAMAGED VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.
5. BE INFORMED OF WHERE TO REPORT SUSPECTED FRAUD OR OTHER COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT AUTO BODY REPAIRS.
6. [effective January 1, 2010, pursuant to AB 1179 (Jones, Chapter 141, 2009)] SEEK AND OBTAIN AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR ESTIMATE DIRECTLY FROM A REGISTERED AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR OF A DAMAGED VEHICLE, EVEN WHEN PURSUING AN INSURANCE CLAIM FOR REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE.

COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR
Complaints concerning the repair of a vehicle by an auto body repair shop should be directed to:
Toll Free (866) 799-3811
Bureau of Automotive Repair
10949 North Mather Blvd.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

The Bureau of Automotive Repair can also accept complaints over its web site at: www.autorepair.ca.gov

COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CALIFORNIA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Any concerns regarding how an auto insurance claim is being handled should be submitted to the California Department of Insurance at:
(800) 927-4357 or (213) 897-8921
California Department of Insurance
Consumer Services Division
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

The California Department of Insurance can also accept complaints over its web site at: www.insurance.ca.gov

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 790.10, 1874.85, 1874.87 of the California Insurance Code. Reference: Sections 790.03(c), 790.03(h)(3), and 1874.87 of the California Insurance Code; Sections 9884.8, 9884.9 of the California Business and Professions Code; and California Code of Regulations, Title 10, Chapter 5, Subchapter 7.5, Section 2695.8(j).

More info

For insurance claims assistance and exceptional collision repair service, turn to the professional team at Romero’s Tri-Valley Auto Body, family-owned and operated since 1990!

Romero’s Tri-Valley Auto Body offers complete collision and restoration repair for all makes and models of vehicles, both foreign and domestic. Our technicians are highly trained and certified to ensure that your car is in the best hands. If you are need of collision repair service or would like more information, call 925.443.8548, Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm.

The Move Over Law states that if there is an emergency or maintenance vehicle with emergency lights or amber lights stationary on the side of the road or on the shoulder, motorists are required to move over a lane to give the vehicles and people more space. If it is not possible to move over a lane, or if it is unsafe, you are required to slow down to a reasonable speed in which it would be safe to pass the vehicles and workers/emergency personal present.

This law was enacted in many states to ensure the safety of emergency personnel and maintenance workers so that they can carry out their duties in a safer environment. California is one of the states that has the Move Over Law. To learn more about the Move Over Law in California, click here.

This law is extremely important to everyone’s safety including your own. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes on the road. So, next time you see a stationary vehicle with emergency or amber flashing lights, be sure to move over, and let them safely do their job.

To read about Triple AAA’s article on the slow down/move over laws, click here.

At Tri-Valley Auto Body, we are committed to serving the community, so our customers get the results they deserve. If you need guidance through the collision repair process, we are here to help alleviate any concerns you may have.

Visit us at 3529 1st Street Livermore, CA 94551, or call us at 925.443.8548. Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Contact us here.