Even the mildest of accidents with another vehicle could create quite unsightly scratches to a car’s paintwork. Most car owners don’t like driving around in their vehicles if the paint scratches can easily be seen. Besides that, any paint scratches will typically decrease the value of the car.
It can be expensive to repair this type of damage and could even mean a complete re-spray of the car’s body just to restore it to the condition it was in before the accident took place.
Fortunately as long as you weren’t to blame you may be able to file a damages claim from the driver who caused the accident and paint scratches.
As these sorts of claims are never easy you should talk to a personal injury attorney before starting the claims process.
The Cost of Fixing Paint Scratches after a Car Accident
Like most car repairs, the cost of repainting a car due to paint scratches typically depends on how serious the damage is. If one side of a car has many deep paint scratches there are several options for repairing the damage.
A cheap coat of enamel paint could cost anything from $300 to $1,000. More extensive damage could push the price up to $3,500.
However, if the car is a luxury vehicle repairing paint scratches could reach $7000. It’s not a straightforward job repairing paint scratches as the final coat of paint has to produce an even layer and color so that the damage is not visible any longer.
Evidence is Required to Prove Fault in an Accident that Has Caused Paint Scratches
When filing a damages claim against the person who caused the paint scratches it’s important to provide enough evidence to the at-fault driver’s insurance company which leaves no doubt as to who caused the accident.
This means providing contact details of witnesses who will vouch what caused the paint scratches, a police report implicating a specific driver as the cause of the accident and photos showing how serious the paint scratches are.
If this proof isn’t provided the insurer could dispute what caused the paint scratches and refuse to agree to pay a damages claim.
The spray painter who is engaged to repaint the scratches should also be approached to make a statement explaining exactly what he or she thinks caused the scratches.
You May Need a Personal Injury Attorney
A personal injury attorney may help you win a damages claim for your paint scratches even if no injuries took place. The attorney will ensure the evidence is strong enough to support a damages claim from the at-fault driver before filing the claim.
This means you will have a higher chance of winning a claim than trying to negotiate with the insurer on your own.
