Stephanie Meeks, owner of The Collision Company in Roswell, GA, will join me tomorrow on Garage Gab at 9am on 89.1FM, WBCX, The Voice of Brenau.  We will be talking about the repair process and how your choice of shops is the biggest help in getting you through this trauma.  Knowing your rights and the laws governing repairs is key to getting the job done right.  Here are some of the things you should know:

Ø In Georgia, the law is clear. The choice of repair facilities after a collision is yours. Regardless of what the insurance company may say, it is your vehicle and you decide who repairs it. The insurance company does not warranty the work, the shop does, so make sure your choice is a good one.

Ø ALWAYS get an accident report. No matter whether it is on private or public property, or even if the other person asks you not to. You only have this once chance to protect your rights.

Ø Diminished value is a ruling of the Supreme Court in Georgia. The insurance company pays it because your car was wrecked, not based on how it was repaired. As a general rule, this should be 15% of the total repair bill on any vehicles with less than 100,000 miles on them.

Don’t let the insurance company, the party who hit you, or anyone else take charge of your repair.  Take it where you know your interests will be protected, the warranty is good, and the technicians working on your vehicle are certified.

I do not intend to say that an all or nothing approach is appropriate, but I do believe government is getting too involved in my every day life.  What I would like to see is for old fashioned manners and common sense come back into our society.  If this happened, people would think twice before engaging in dangerous behavior of any kind. They would think of the other folks on the road, and how it might also impact them.  A friend was recently in an accident where another car clipped him on the interstate going in excess of 100 mph.  Fortunately, even though his truck was totalled, he was not severely injured.  However, the other driver died.  What was he thinking?
When I advise people regarding safety in my Automotive Boot Camp, it generally concerns the mechanical operation of their vehicles. Having your tires and brakes in top notch condition is a recurring theme.   I do not generally get into the behavior of other people, as it is really none of my business.  But, the attitude of the driver is as much a part of being safe on the road as the mechanics.  Anger, rage, hunger, and thoughtlessness lead to putting the driver and many other people in harm’s way.  Most of the time, no one thinks of this when they get behind the wheel.   Maybe we should make it a check you do before you start the engine.

Believe me when I say, I know I talk on the phone while on the road.  Is it safe for me and others? No.    I think the attention being given this subject is good, and now I often find myself hitting the “ignore” button while on the road.   Then, when I do stop, I can retrieve the voice mail and return the call safely.   I was especially conscious of this recently while driving through the heart of Atlanta.  The phone rang, and I knew for a certainty that I did NOT need to answer it at that moment.

Maybe this piece will give you pause when you are driving.   Maybe you will think twice before getting into that conversation.   Honestly, I will probably not completely stop using my cell when I am in the car, but I can promise you that I will carefully consider where I am and what is going on before calling or answering.   After all, it is courteous.   And, when I learned to drive, courtesy was a huge part of what was taught.

Motorcyclists always say “ride safe” when they take off.   Maybe we should adopt “drive safe” for cars.   Human nature is such that each and every one of believe we are being safe, even when we are not.   Calling a spade a shovel, be honest with yourself when you are on the road.

I ask this question in parting. “Is it worth the risk?”

In this month’s newsletter, we are giving you some basic hints on keeping your wallet and you car in tip top shape.

After the round of bad weather we have had, it is absolutely necessary to get your car cleaned. The salt, sand, and gravel used to treat roads for ice can have a devastating effect on your vehicle. An automatic carwash would be good, although you should make sure they do not use brushes that will harm your finish. This can insure that the undercarriage of your car gets a thorough cleaning. The grime on the roads can affect more than the finish on your vehicle. The suspension and engine are open to the road as well.

Another area that often gets overlooked is what I call a “monthly walk around”. Once a month or so, take a friend and walk around your vehicle, while the other person is sitting behind the wheel. Check out turn indicators, brake & running lights, and headlights; observe any dents and dings that may be new; check your tires for wear; and make sure the windshield wipers are in good condition and working properly. All of this is simple, but can keep you from harm if you have a brake light out, or headlamps that are not working.  You might avoid getting a ticket as well.  It will familiarize you with the external aspects of your vehicle and keep you on your toes when it comes to simple maintenance.

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.

Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions.

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid…

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid…

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck…

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner’s manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

In Georgia, the minimum coverage is 25/50/25 and since January 2009 a requirement for having uninsured motorist coverage.  The first $25,000 is bodily injury coverage for one person injured in the accident; the $50,000 is for ALL injuries in the accident; and the last $25,000 is for property damage liability.  Also, you need to know if you have medical AND property damage coverage under uninsured motorist.

Given the current costs of medical treatment and vehicle repair, this would not be enough to protect you in a major accident.  That would put your assets at risk.  Consider increasing your limits if you just have minimums.  $25k worth of coverage for one person injured in a serious accident can be eaten up in a hurry.

Here is my coverage, for example.  I have 100/300/50 with 25/50/25 in uninsured motorist.  I also have car rental and travel expense coverage. On top of all of this, I have a $2M umbrella policy.  My rental coverage costs me $14.40 a year, much less than one day of car rental should I need it, and $2.40 for emergency road service.

This is not to say that everyone should have all of this coverage, but you need to review your limits to make sure you do not have out of pocket expenses in case of an accident.  My friend, Paul Locke, can help you with this.  Go to  www.GeorgiaAutoInsurance.com.

It was subject that came to mind for me last week. My MINI warranty will lapse in 5,000 miles or two months, whichever comes sooner. Since I was at the point of needing an oil change, it was an opportunity to stay ahead of the repair issues. I asked my mechanic, at My Mercedes Place in (http://www.mymercedesplace.com/), to go over the vehicle while they were changing the oil to determine if there were any potential problems that I could take to the dealer and prevent my having to pay for a repair after the warranty expires.

Fortunately, for me, it was not an especially big problem that Danny found, but one that could potentially cost me in the future. My power steering reservoir is leaking. Danny explained that the material from which the reservoir is made is inherently porous and can continue to erode.

I called my MINI dealer and made an appointment for next week. I made sure to tell the circus writer that I had a faulty part and that I expected them to have one on hand when I brought the car in. Regardless, if their track record remains intact, they will have my car most of the week. However, they do have to provide me with a loaner while mine is being repaired.

By finding a local, independent mechanic you can avoid costly repairs. They will advise you when your vehicle needs repair, and whether or not this repair would be covered under your warranty. Be especially vigilant when the expiration of your warranty gets close.

Stay linked in to http://www.womensautomotiveconnection.com for more advice on how to keep your money in your wallet and not in the dealership’s.