Atlanta, like a lot of urban areas is full of bad drivers. You don’t want to be one of them. Most of the accidents and tickets are caused by not being aware of your surroundings and lack of common sense.

As a former body shop manager, I can tell you that highest numbers of accidents are caused by rear end collisions. The cause if obvious, but so is the cure. For some of us older folks, the rule when we learned to drive was one car length for each 10mph. It was a good suggestion, but difficult to implement. Now, the more prudent guideline is the 3 second rule. That means when the car in front of you passes a landmark (i.e., sign post),

you should arrive at that point in 3 seconds. A few years ago, I passed an accident on GA 400 where three cars had literally run up onto the rear deck of each other. Georgia law generally will find the person in the rear responsible, and you don’t want it to be you.

Another of the bad habits of drivers in Atlanta is the use of turn indicators. The term turn signal implies to these drivers that when they engage it, they have a right to go in whichever direction they have chosen. It is called a turn indicator because is to communicate to those around you what your intentions are, not what you are going to do no matter the traffic conditions. On the flip side, there are those who never utilize their turn indicators at all. When the indicators are used properly, traffic can flow smoothly.

Both of these habits bring up one of my biggest pet peeves. People who drive vehicles and have no idea that one or more of their lights are not working… A client of mine called me recently to say he had almost been rear-ended because his brake lights were out. His problem was more than a blown bulb, but that is usually the cause. Bulbs are easily replaced and are on vehicles for safety reasons, not decoration. So, take a friend and both of you go around your vehicles and check headlights (both high and low beams), turn indicators, brake lights, back-up lights, and hazard flashers. It will not only save you money, but may save your life.

For more driving tips, go to: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/. There are all sorts of hints there.

These are only two of the common errors drivers make, but right there on top of my list.

I will share more of these as time goes by. Just remember that “common sense is not very common”

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No one ever wants to be in this situation, but your vehicle is involved in an accident and in need of repair.  Everyone is OK, but the car needs help.  Where do you go to get help in this process?
After you call the police, do their report, and phone your insurance company, then the bewilderment and confusion sets in.  You need to know your rights and how the process works.
First of all, you do not need to get three estimates any longer.  The law in the State of Georgia is clear.  It is your vehicle and the choice of repairs is yours alone.  Insurance companies may try to “steer” you to a shop by telling you that they will not warranty the repairs unless you take it there.  The insurance company does not warranty the repairs, the shop does, and the reputable shops will tell you what their warranty is.  In most cases it is for as long as you own the car.  So, the important decision is finding a shop that you trust and getting your car there.
Some repairs obviously take longer than others, but a five-day job is the norm.  Since all you will see is the new paint when the car is returned, make sure you find a shop that is I-CAR certified and has all of the equipment necessary for your particular repair.
One thing that often confuses people is the fact that they see that a new bumper cover doesn’t match the car exactly.  Look at new cars on the lot; theirs do not match either.  The cause of this is the difference in painting plastic versus metal.  The difference should only be slight, but there will be some.
Be sure that you have rental coverage on your insurance policy.  It is one of the cheapest coverages you can buy, but without it you can rack up quite a bill sometime.  If the accident is the other party’s fault, they or their insurance company should provide you with a rental while your car is being repaired.
Make sure that your look your car over carefully when it is completed.  Mistakes happen, and most are not intentional.  Point them out to the staff member right away, but keep your options open.  After you get your vehicle home, you may find other issues.  Write them down, and call the collision center and find out when they can correct them.  A reputable shop will gladly take care of any problems you may find.
There is a lot more to a good experience in collision repair than just giving them your car and waiting for a call.  The staff should be communicating with you a couple of time while your vehicle is there to update you on the status.
But remember, “you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar”.  The people at the body shop that you talk to are the ones responsible for getting your car repaired correctly and in a timely manner.  You want to keep them on your side, and not make the process more difficult.
Although no one feels that their vehicle is ever the same after an accident and repair, most of them are.  The aftermath of emotions of driving a car that has been wrecked can be nerve wracking.  Try not to be “gun shy”, but do recognize if problems come up further down the road.
As a final note, Georgia is one of the only states that recognized “diminished value”.  The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the owner of any vehicle with less than 100,000 miles is entitled to be reimbursed after an accident just because the car has been wrecked and is now worth less.  It has nothing to do with how or where the car was repaired.  A rule of thumb in these situations is the reimbursement should be about 15% of the final repair bill.  If the responsible party (insurance company or individual) does not contact you, feel free to call them and ask for this money.  If your car is very new, the sum should be greater, but you may have to hire an independent appraiser to prove this.
If you have questions beyond what has been covered here, feel free to call Gail Dunn, 770-722-5211, or go to our website www.womensautomotiveconnection.com for more information and help.

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On April 18, 2009, the new Automotive Boot Camp will be launched at Parc Alpharetta, 1000 Fanfare Way, Alpharetta, GA.  It will begin at 2:00 in the afternoon and admission is $15, plus two cans of food for the North Fulton Charities.  The program will last 1-2 hours, including some garage time with three convertibles.  This program will be basic training in maintaining your vehicle.  You will be given information on how to avoid being ripped off, and ways to enhance the experience of getting your car serviced.   It is an interactive program with plenty of time to get your questions answered, and your concerns addressed.  Gail Dunn and Sherry Richardson will be available afterward to take you into the garage and go over vehicles, theirs and yours.  Put this on your calendar and join us.  Contact either Gail, 770-72-5211 (or e-mail via www.womensautomotiveconnection.com) or Sherry, 678-905-1718 (or email via www.alancoxautomotive.com.  We will have refreshments and a lot of fun.  Make your plans now!

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On Friday, March 6, Gail Dunn and Sherry Richardson were featured on CBS Atlanta 11pm news.  You can view this segment at: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/18877225/?taf=lnta

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