If you have just been involved in an auto accident, one of the hassles of dealing with the aftermath is obtaining replacement transportation and getting your vehicle repaired or replaced. Here are some simple guidelines that may help you in handling the property damage aspect of your claim:>

• WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR CAR REPAIRED?:
  Georgia law allows you to have your vehicle repaired at any shop that you choose. WARNING: Many insurers will try to steer you to repair shops that they have contracted with to have your car repaired. BE CAREFUL!! Think about it. Why would they steer you to their shop? Because many of these shops have contracted to do the work for less or at a discount. Remember, you get what you pay for. Discount body work usually means shoddy work. If you go to one of the insurers' shops, get a lifetime warranty on the repairs. OR, choose a shop that you trust. However, remember that the insurance company is only required to pay for the reasonable cost of repairs. Remember that in addition to the costs of repairs, you are now entitled to recover for the diminished value of the vehicle because of the fact that it has been involved in a collision.
• WHAT ABOUT REPLACEMENT TRANSPORTATION?:
  Many times the at-fault insurer will pay for a rental vehicle either by direct billing or a promise to reimburse you but are not required to do this. Under either circumstance, be prepared for the insurer to limit the time that you can obtain replacement transportation and the cost of that transportation. Even if the insurer promises you that the bill will be directly billed to them, you should be careful about the cost of the rental and the length of time that you are going to use it. Check in with the insurer and the rental agency frequently. If it is direct billed, the insurance company is the rental company's customer and if the insurer refuses to pay, the rental company will stick you with the bill whether you like it or not. Then you are left litigating with them. Also, the insurance company is only required to reimburse you for the reasonable cost of replacement transportation. If your Yugo was wrecked and is being repaired, the insurance company is not going to pay for you to rent a BMW sport utility vehicle for three months while parts are on order. Sometimes, the insurer will flat refuse to pay for the costs of replacement transportation. In this circumstance you should look to your own insurance policy or pay out of your pocket and attempt to recover from the insurer either in a settlement or in litigation.
• IF YOUR CAR WAS TOTALLED:
  You should expect to receive the fair market value of your vehicle. This amount is above the wholesale that you would normally get on a trade. A good way to get some idea of what the fair market value of your vehicle is to go to a website like www.edmunds.com or www.kbb.com (Kelly bluebook website). You should be able to get some idea of what your vehicle is worth from visiting those sites. Another alternative if you cannot reach agreement regarding the price, is to have the insurer provide you with a list of vehicles similar to yours which are available for sale and have the insurer pay for the replacement vehicle you choose.