What to Do If the Car Was Repaired Without Damage Assessment?
2 Answers
You can request your insurance company to participate in the negotiation with the other party, allowing the insurance company to directly compensate the other party for the repair costs. If the repair cost is relatively small or generally reasonable, you can negotiate compensation with the other party first and then apply for claims settlement with the insurance company. If the repair cost is clearly unreasonable or the insurance company does not approve of the other party's repair expenses, you can also request the other party to sue the insurance company in court.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I've actually been in this situation before. That time on the highway when I got rear-ended, the back of my car was completely smashed. Needing the car urgently, I paid for the repairs myself. Then the insurance company said an assessment was mandatory—I was stunned. Later, after contacting their customer service and explaining the situation, they asked me to provide repair invoices and accident evidence. I had to go through hoops to prove I wasn't trying to bypass the assessment. Luckily, with the traffic police report and scene photos, they reluctantly covered 70%. My advice: act quickly, don't delay. Gather all repair receipts, payment proofs, accident photos, or witness contacts and communicate with your insurer. For prevention, always photograph the scene immediately after an accident before moving your car, and call your insurance right away to send an assessor on-site—avoid paying out of pocket next time.
