Auto Insurance Claims: auto accident, auto frame repair

Question
We were recently in a car accident. The subframe of the car was bent. The insurance company wants to fix this and said it might include weilding of the frame? Is this safe? We were told by an individual that the car should be a total loss.

Answer
Hello Dawn,

Yes it is safe, if it is done properly. If you question a particular shops repair quality, you could take the repaired vehicle to another body shop with frame equipment or to a frame specialty shop and check the quality and measurements. If the frame is really crumpled, then that section can be cut out and replaced. If your friend thinks he/she can get insurers to total out vehicles because the frame is damaged, then your friend could make a good living as a public adjuster specializing in this type of claim :)

Your friend may be right in principal and there may be some DV (diminished value), but so far the courts in this country have sided with the insurers and body shops on this issue.