According to Bankrate, the frequency of auto accidents varies by state and region due to differences in road quality. However, car crashes are unfortunately common all across the nation. Experiencing an accident can be highly traumatic. A crash can occur in a split second, and you can go from having a nice, peaceful drive to frantically hoping that you and anyone else in the vehicle won't be injured or worse.

Once you've collected yourself, you need to do some important things following your accident. If another person was involved in the collision, you need to obtain their information. You also need to make sure that you aren't injured. Talk to any medical personnel who come to the scene and follow up with your regular doctor soon after that, keeping in mind that some symptoms of serious injuries can take a couple of days to show up.

Then, it's time to see about getting your car fixed if possible. The sooner you take care of this, the better, especially if you drive to and from work and don't have an alternative source of transportation to get where you need to go. Auto collision experts can do things like fix dented doors and bumpers and replace windshields. But what does a trip to an auto collision shop entail? Here are some essential steps you'll need to take to properly prepare for your repair appointment.

1. Clear Out Your Vehicle

The professionals at an auto collision shop will be going through all the different areas of your vehicle to get it back in shape. The last thing they want to deal with is a lot of clutter to dig through. Take care to get rid of any unnecessary items in your car, from empty bottles to cups to food wrappers. If you have bags of supplies in the car, get them out and put them in storage for the time being. You want to bring a vehicle that's as empty as possible, including the glove compartment. That way, the technicians at the repair shop will be able to concentrate on everything they need to do to fix it.

You might want to vacuum your car as well. Nobody wants to deal with a gross and unclean vehicle, so this is a matter of courtesy. The staff will certainly appreciate you making the effort ahead of time. If you aren't able to vacuum your car because you've been injured or lack the necessary supplies, ask the auto collision shop if there is a cleaning fee.

2. Get an Estimate

It's always important to know how much any service you're paying for will cost ahead of time. This also includes the price of the repairs performed by an auto collision shop. Be sure to get an estimate and have the shop write out exactly what each item on your invoice is. That way, you will know why they are charging a certain price for a service. This will also help you plan out your budget more efficiently.

This won't be a final bill, of course. The technicians could find additional issues with your vehicle when they take a closer look at it, and this would naturally drive up the cost of your repairs. However, this way, you'll have a general ballpark figure of how much money you'll be spending.

Don't hesitate to ask the shop questions when you're getting your estimate. Additionally, do some online research into what typical prices are for certain services. You may even be able to negotiate a bit.

3. Know the Extent of the Damage

Before you head to the auto collision shop, you should have a general idea of how badly your vehicle has been damaged. While this can be difficult to gauge if you're not a car repair professional, a visual inspection can still be helpful. This will help you have a rough idea of how long it might take to do the whole job.

You'll likely need to have an inspector from your insurance agency look at your vehicle to make sure that everything in the initial damage report matches what they see. The workers at the auto collision shop will know what parts they need to have on hand, whether it's a windshield, a door, or anything else.

4. Find Out What Your Insurance Policy Covers

Don't head to the auto collision shop without having made contact with an insurance agent. It's critical to know exactly how much money you'll need to spend following an auto accident, and this will require you to stay in contact with your insurance provider. They may want you to send photos of all the damage your vehicle has incurred so that they can determine how much of the repair costs they will cover. Many insurance companies have smartphone apps that allow you to upload pictures immediately. This can save a lot of time and aggravation.

Be sure to get your insurance agent to explain in detail what repairs they will and won't reimburse you for and how they came to this conclusion. This can help you avoid unnecessary confusion about coverage. Just a bit of due diligence can help prevent any unpleasant surprises later on. Dealing with auto insurance is a critical process after an accident, and you want to have the right information from the very start.

5. Prepare Your Questions

You want to make sure that you are prepared when you get to the auto collision shop. Proper preparation will include making sure that you have all the relevant questions that you should ask written down. By figuring this out in advance, you will help ensure that you don't forget anything important and are able to get all the information you need before repairs begin. Do some research online to see what questions other people have asked repair shops following accidents. This will give you a framework to work around. Then, compile your own list of questions and bring it to the auto collision shop.

One thing you might want to find out is how long you will be without your vehicle. The auto collision shop might have a loaner vehicle for you, but it's important to inquire about this beforehand rather than making any assumptions. Otherwise, you might have to find other methods of transportation to get back home. Failure to plan ahead means you may have to make an embarrassing call to either someone you know or a car service to come pick you up from the auto collision shop.

Navigating the auto repair process after an accident can be an exhausting experience, especially when you're no doubt already feeling stressed. However, taking the steps outlined above can help ensure that your visit to the auto collision shop goes as smoothly as possible. The better you plan ahead for your appointment, the sooner you'll likely be able to enjoy driving your vehicle again.

Have you recently been in an accident? At City Side Auto Body, we understand how overwhelming this can be and want to help get your vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. If you're looking for an auto collision shop to handle all your repair needs, contact us today to learn more about our services and request a free estimate.