| If you were involved in an automobile accident... It is your absolute right to select the registered repair shop of your choice to make repairs. 212 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regulation 2.04 (c) states: "No staff or independent appraiser, insurer, representative of insurer, or employer of an independent appraiser shall refer the claimant to or away from any specific repair shop or require that repairs be made by a specific repair shop or individual." Your insurance company is required to give you a list of all legally registered shops in your county. You are not required to use a "referral" or "preferred" shop on this list, only a registered repair shop. Massachusetts state law requires ALL registered shops in Massachusetts to guarantee their repairs. Your insurer is required to deal in good faith with whatever registered repair shop you select and is required to attempt to negotiate the cost of repairs with your chosen shop. In order to expedite your claim you may find it convenient to select your repair shop, leave your vehicle there, and then notify your insurance company as to where the vehicle may be examined. You do not have to take your vehicle to a drive-in claims center to be inspected by your insurer. If you request, your insurer must inspect the damages to your vehicle at your chosen repair shop. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 26, Section 8G states: "No insurance company or employee, agent or insurance agency or representative thereof shall coerce or use any tactics the purpose of which is to prevent insureds or claimants from seeking damage reports on repairs from their own repair shop rather than utilizing a company appraisal drive-in facility." |
| REMEMBER,
STEERING IS AGAINST THE LAW!
NOBODY CAN TELL YOU WHERE TO GO!! |
| If you believe that an insurer
or their representative has caused you to experience any of these illegal
"steering" acts,
DIAL (978) 249-9255 IMMEDIATELY |
| R E W A R D U P O N C O N V I C T I O N ! |