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Safety Technology Considerations During Glass Repair

Name: Accurate Auto Body
Address: 10320 E 6th Ave, Aurora,, CO, 80010
Telephone: 303-344-2212
Rating: 4.3

Posted on: November 30th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop No Comments

Powerful new safety technologies are making our cars safer. Among the most effective safety technologies are forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB). Studies show that some of these technologies could reduce your risk of collisions by about 50-80%, depending on the exact combination you have and the manufacturer. That means a lot fewer collision repairs for you.

However, when repairs do have to happen, they can be more expensive, sometimes in surprising ways. If your car has advanced safety features, even something as simple as repairing rock damage to or replacing your car’s windshield requires skills and technology to ensure it’s done properly. Otherwise, safety features might not work in the future.

Why Glass Repair Must Take Safety Tech into Account

It might seem like there’s nothing special about the windshield. It’s just a clear piece of glass. However, it’s much more than that. The glass itself needs to be especially clear and free from distortions. Even small distortions that you might not notice can be important to the cameras that help the system make its calculations and decisions. The result could be false positives, where your car issues a warning or even brakes unnecessarily. In some situations, the car might not see some potential hazards, which can reduce the safety system’s effectiveness, and make you more likely to get into accidents.

In addition, once the glass has been replaced, the safety systems will have to be calibrated again. This makes sure that they are functioning properly in the new configuration. As with glass replacement, if you don’t do the proper adjustments after windshield repair or replacement, you might also experience problems that could potentially make the system ineffective. This may result in issues such as providing warnings or braking suddenly without warning.

These problems could also arise if you get rock damage repaired with techniques that might cause visual distortions in the glass.

Manufacturers warn that replacing your windshield glass with an unapproved replacement could void your warranty.

If you want to make sure your car safety features continue to work as designed, you must work with an auto body shop that understands the advanced safety features of your car.

Accurate Auto Body Is Your High-Tech Body Shop in Denver

At Accurate Auto Body, we understand that high-tech features demand high-tech collision repairs. We have been factory trained in Toyota repairs. We are also among the only 4% of garages that qualify as Honda Certified auto body repair shops. This not only requires Honda specific repair information, but a high-grade auto body shop and top-notch customer service that benefits all our customers. We have also achieved I-CAR Gold Class recognition, showing that we meet the high standards of training for this elite certification.

In addition, we utilize our Focus on You Service System™ to ensure that every customer gets not only the best repairs, but also has the best repair experience at our shop. We will treat you with respect as soon as you enter our welcoming shop. We take the time to listen to your needs and concerns, and always try to meet them. In addition, we offer you guaranteed pricing and completion dates. When you get an estimate, you will know when your car will be ready and how much repairs are going to cost. We work hard to complete your repairs as quickly as possible, but we never sacrifice quality for speed. We will fix your car right the first time. Plus, we can work with your insurance company so you don’t have to, making for the easiest, fastest repair experience possible – at a guaranteed price.

To get a free estimate on your car’s repairs in the Denver and Aurora area, please call 303-344-2212 or use our online form today.

How Do I Know If I Need New Tires?

Posted on: November 24th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop 3 Comments

Although fall came a little late to the Front Range, and the weather remains warm, it’s time to start thinking about winter weather and preparing your car for winter driving conditions. After all, some of the worst winter storms can come suddenly, when warm, moist air meets a mass of cold air right over the region. So, it’s best to be prepared for winter weather before it hits.

You don’t want your first warning that you need new tires to be when you slide out of control and get in a collision. As much as we like to keep busy at our collision repair shop, we’d rather not see your car in our shop getting its crumpled front end replaced. So here are some things to consider that can help you know when you need new tires.

Worn Tread

One of the biggest factors in needing new tires is the wear on your tire’s tread. Traditionally, people have recommended the penny test, where you put a penny upside down into the tread of the tire and if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you need new tires.

However, this test is not sufficient in Colorado, not if you want to stay on the good side of Colorado’s traction law. The penny test measures whether you have at least 2/32 (1/16) inch of tread on your tires. However, when the traction law is in effect, your tires must have at least 3/16 inch of tread, three times as much!

So, if you’re planning on driving your 4WD or AWD car in the snow, or relying on snow tires, all-weather tires, or winter tires, make sure you use a tire tread gauge or use our updated tread guide in our Colorado Traction Law refresher.

When to Transition to Snow Tires

Speaking of snow tires, when is the best time to transition to snow tires? The general guideline is that you should transition to snow tires when the temperature is regularly less than 45° F. While that seems impossible to imagine this year, remember that this relates to the time you’re actually driving. While our afternoons are quite warm right now, the mornings have turned chilly. If your morning commute regularly happens at less than 45° F, now might be a good time to transition to snow tires.

You can also read more detailed information about transitioning to snow tires.

Damaged Tires

In addition to wear, you will need to replace your tires when they are damaged. A visual inspection will help you detect damaged tires. Look for uneven tread wear, cracking, or visible bulges on the side of the tire. All these indicate the tire is damaged and may be likely to fail – possibly catastrophically – in the near future.

You might also detect tire damage by noticing that they’re not holding air pressure, or if they are making unusual noises or motions when you drive.

Old Tires

Sometimes, your tires might look and function fine, but they need replacement anyway. Tires degrade with age, so it’s important to replace them when they get too old. Depending on who you ask, the age to replace tires is either six years or ten years.

Accurate Auto Body Can Help

If you weren’t able to get your tires replaced in time and were unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision as a result, Accurate Auto Body can help. We offer a wide range of collision repair services to restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.

Our Focus on You Service System™ has been created to ensure that you have a good experience throughout every stage of the vehicle repair process. We treat all our guests with respect, and we listen to your needs. We help you understand your options so you can choose the best collision repair solution for you. Then we will give you a guaranteed price, and a guaranteed completion time. Plus, we work around your schedule to make your vehicle repairs as convenient as possible.

Please call 303-344-2212 or email us today to schedule an appointment at Accurate Auto Body. We serve customers in Denver, Aurora and the surrounding areas of Colorado.

Winter Vehicle Prep Tips to Avoid Accidents

Posted on: October 20th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop 1 Comment

Colorado winters may not be as harsh as they used to be, but it’s still important to prepare your car for winter driving if you want to avoid accidents.

There are many things you should do for the health of your car, such as checking batteries and keeping gas tanks full, but we’re going to focus on the things that will help you avoid getting in an accident. We know that there will be plenty of cars getting collision repair in our auto body shop this winter – we don’t need to see yours, too!

Inflate Tires

As the temperature drops, so does the pressure in your tires. Having underinflated tires can affect not just your gas mileage, but your maneuvering. A car with underinflated tires is less responsive in steering and needs more distance to stop.

Check Tire Tread

Your tire tread is designed to give you traction in adverse conditions such as on wet, snowy roads. Having good tire tread is important to maintaining maneuverability in the winter. Note that Colorado’s new traction law requires a deeper tread to be in compliance (3/16” vs. 1/8”) so old-fashioned tests of tread depth are insufficient.

Consider Winter Tires

If you are checking your tread and notice that there’s not enough, now might be a good time to upgrade to winter tires. Winter tires can give you better handling and braking during snowy conditions. The trade-off is that winter tires can diminish your gas mileage, but it’s often worth it.

Check Your Brakes

It’s a good idea to get your car a checkup before the winter season is in full swing. As part of this checkup, you should make sure your brakes are inspected. Make sure all brake components are in good shape, and that the entire system is working properly (including anti-lock brakes and traction control systems).

Replace Windshield Wiper Blades

Visibility is paramount in winter driving. You can’t maneuver around obstacles that you can’t see. Making sure you can see means being able to clear your windshield during winter weather. If your windshield wiper blades aren’t up to the task, either because they’re worn out or they’ve degraded with sunlight, it’s time to replace them. Don’t forget your rear wiper, either!

Get Freeze Resistant Wiper Fluid

Start by checking your wiper fluid levels. Don’t forget the rear fluid reservoir, if you have one. If you need more fluid, top it off. Make sure that the windshield wiper fluid you’re using is designed to avoid freezing. Otherwise, it can turn to ice on your windshield, and that won’t help your visibility at all.

Check Your Heat

Having a functioning heater in your car is about more than just comfort. When it gets cold, snow doesn’t just fall onto your windshield, it can freeze there. This creates a thin layer of ice that can make it almost impossible to see out from the car. It’s important to make sure that your windshield defroster is working properly.

Why Choose Accurate Auto Body for Collision Repair

If your car is in an accident, you want several things from your auto body shop: competence, trustworthiness, and compassion.

Accurate Auto Body is an I-CAR Gold Class auto body shop. This means that our technicians achieve and maintain the highest levels of training in the industry. We do this in part with factory training from Toyota and taking part in Honda’s ProFirst collision repair training.

Accurate Auto Body is also trustworthy. We are ranked A+ with the BBB. We maintain this grade by not giving customers reasons to make a claim with the BBB. And if we do have claims, we resolve them quickly to our customers’ satisfaction.

You can also trust us thanks to our Focus on You Service™ system. This means we give you guaranteed pricing, guaranteed completion dates, and educate you on all you need to know about your car’s repairs.

Our Focus on You Service™ system is also a measure of our compassion. We understand how hard it is to live without your car, and we work hard to work around your schedule. We offer fast turnaround times, and fix your damage right the first time.

Need collision repairs on your car after a winter car accident? Please call 303-344-2212 or use our online form to schedule a free repair estimate at our shop in Aurora.

Tips for Negotiating with Your Insurance Company After an Accident

Posted on: October 13th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop No Comments

Auto insurance can be a great relief after your car accident. The insurance company will pay for all the collision repairs, and this can be a comforting feeling.

Unfortunately, it’s not always as easy as that. Sometimes it can be very hard to get your insurance company to pay for repairs you think should be covered. Here are a few tips to help you get the compensation you deserve from your insurance company.

Understand Your Coverage

Take time to review the terms of your coverage before any negotiations. Your coverage spells out limitations of how much compensation you can get for any accident. Understanding the terms of your coverage will help you avoid the frustration of demanding things your policy doesn’t cover.

Always Be Polite and Professional

Your insurance adjuster is a human being who is trying to do their job. Being rude and angry at them is more likely to turn them against you than to make them inclined to give you what you’re asking for.

Identify Who You’re Talking to

It’s important to understand who you’re talking to. Most insurance adjusters know how to make a consistent front, but sometimes one might give you inaccurate information. On the other hand, if you get good service, it’s nice to know who to praise if you’re asked for a review.

Don’t Reveal More than Necessary

This is more important when dealing with another insurance company, but it’s still good advice when dealing with your insurance company. You should describe the circumstances of your accident in basic terms: the events that happened as they happened. Don’t talk about your state of mind or speculate about the state of mind of any other drivers.

Take Notes

Take notes during or immediately after your call to make sure you accurately record all that you were told by the adjuster. Speaking of recording, Colorado is a single-party consent state, so you can record your calls with the insurance company without telling them.

Don’t Accept a Settlement Before You Know All the Damage

Sometimes an insurance adjuster will try to get you to settle your claim as soon as possible, rather than waiting for the full damage report to come in. This may be because the company doesn’t want to pay for all the damage, or it might just be because they want to get this claim off their desk.

No matter why they are trying to get this from you, it’s important to hold off on any settlement until you know the full extent of the damage. This is true even if you think it’s likely that the claim will “total” your car.

Let Us Handle It

On the other hand, if you’re not relishing the thought of working with your insurance company, you could let us do the negotiations. We deal with insurance companies literally every day. We have built good relationships with them, and we speak their language. It’s easy for us to convey your car’s damage to them. We understand how insurance policies work, which makes it easy for us to figure out your coverage and apply that to your car’s damage.

Part of Our Focus on You Service™ System

Our willingness to work with insurance companies is just one of the many things we do in our Focus on You Service™ system to make your auto repairs as convenient as possible. In addition to this, we will work around your schedule, letting you drop off your car when it’s convenient for you. We will also give you a guaranteed date for your repairs to be completed – and a guaranteed cost, so you won’t get any surprise bills after repairs are finished.

To let Accurate Auto Body deal with your insurance company so you don’t have to, please call 303-344-2212 or use our online form to schedule your free estimate at our shop in Aurora.

5 Ways to Avoid Collision Estimate Scams

Posted on: September 30th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop 1 Comment

With hundreds of thousands of accidents in the US every year, there’s a lot of money in the collision repair business. Unfortunately, not all auto body shops want to make their money honestly. Instead, some of them want to pad their profit margin by participating in scams that charge you or your insurance company excessively.

Even if your insurance company is going to pay for auto body repairs, you want to fight fraud. Fraud can lead to substandard repairs and higher insurance premiums in the future. Here’s how you can avoid expensive collision estimate scams.

Only Let a Tow Driver Hook Up Your Car If You Called Them

If you get in an accident and end up on the side of the road, it might seem convenient at first to have a tow truck drive up and offer to hook up your car to take to a repair shop.

However, there’s good reason not to take the offer from an opportunistic tow truck. Instead of taking you to the closest or most reputable repair shop, a driver might take you to the shop that gives him a kickback. This can be problematic because the shops that give kickbacks to tow drivers like this are more likely to be fraudsters. Once your car is at their shop, they will hold it hostage.

Instead, wait for the tow truck you called, and tell them where to take your car.

Choose Your Auto Body Shop with Care

When your car needs repairs, you need to find an auto body shop you can trust. Ideally, it’s a good idea to do all your research beforehand and have a shop to take your car to in the event of an accident. You can either get suggestions for an auto shop from friends and family who have gotten good work done, or you can do your own research independently.

You can even call people for recommendations or do research while you wait for a tow truck to arrive.

Make Sure All Items on the Estimate Are Necessary

One of the most common collision estimate scams is to add items to the repair list that aren’t necessary on your car. These are repairs that the shop doesn’t intend to do and/or parts that they don’t intend to install in the car.

If you’re not sure about any items on the estimate, ask the service person to explain them to you and show you the part on the car. If you’re still unsure about the item, use your phone to do a quick search and see if the explanation you’re getting matches up with the information you find.

Never Sign an Estimate without Numbers Filled In

Another type of collision estimate scam is asking you to sign an estimate that has blank spaces on it. Then the mechanic or manager will fill in the information after you leave with whatever numbers they want.

Once you sign an estimate, ask to get a copy sent to you by email and/or take a picture of the estimate with your camera or phone.

Promise to Inspect Work to Make Sure It’s Right

Once you sign the estimate and document it, promise that you’ll inspect the work when it’s complete. This will head off many types of shenanigans, such as not replacing parts they say they are going to, or the common collision estimate scam of including new factory parts in the estimate but using generic or rebuilt parts.

Then do the inspection, making sure that all the replaced parts have been replaced with the promised type.

Trust Accurate Auto Body for Repairs in Denver and Aurora

At Accurate Auto Body, we have been performing honest, quality repairs since 1991. We have earned an A+ rating with the BBB because of the honesty of our work, and our dedication to quickly resolving any problems to our customers’ satisfaction.

We also offer our exclusive Focus on You Service System™. This means that we will:

Give a guaranteed damage report and estimate
Give a guaranteed completion date
Explain all repairs and repair options to you
Complete your repairs as quickly as possible
Fix your car right the first time

Want to learn more about what makes Accurate Auto Body a reliable, trustworthy auto body shop? Please call 303-344-2212 or use our online form to request a free estimate today.

Repair Options after Parking Lot Vehicle Damage

Posted on: September 27th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop No Comments

Tens of thousands of parking lot accidents occur every year, accounting for about one in five accidents. Many of these collisions are minor, but some can be quite severe, and almost all of them result in some damage to one or more vehicles. So what are your options for getting repairs to your car after it’s damaged in a parking lot accident?

Repair Options After a Parking Lot Accident

Parking lot vehicle damage comes in many forms, so it’s possible you might need different types of dent repair, depending on the type of damage.

Paintless Dent Repair

Paintless dent repair is a way to repair minor damage to your car without having to paint the car. This involves using special techniques and tools to gently pop out dented sections of the car. This can be done quickly because there’s no need to paint the car, and this makes it a very affordable repair option for door dings, dents, and damage to the bodyline of a car.

Paintless dent repair can’t be used if the car’s damage coincides with structural supports for the car. It also doesn’t work when the paint is damaged or if the metal has been stretched.

Traditional Dent Repair

Traditional dent repair can involve many different steps. We might have to remove the entire panel, hammer out dents, add filler, grind the metal, and more. Often, it’s best just to replace the damaged part of the car.

In either case, it’s also necessary to paint the repaired part so that it matches the rest of the car. Color matching is something we at Accurate Auto Body are very good at.

Car Painting

Painting is often a part of traditional dent repair, but sometimes we have to paint parts of the car even if they haven’t been dented. Car doors are surprisingly effective at scraping paint off cars, and if you’re unhappy with an area of scraped paint, we can repaint it. We will make sure the new paint matches your old paint exactly.

Payment Options After a Parking Lot Accident

Necessary car repairs can sometimes get expensive, especially if safety technology or other advanced features of the car were damaged. Usually, people pay for their parking lot vehicle damage repairs in one of three ways.

The Other Driver’s Insurance

If your car was hit by someone in the parking lot and you managed to get their insurance information, their insurance might pay for your repairs. Although this might seem like a complicated arrangement, at Accurate Auto Body, we’re used to handling this situation. We can make it as easy for you as possible by dealing with the other driver’s insurance.

Your Insurance

If you didn’t manage to get insurance information from the other driver, you might have to put repairs for parking lot vehicle damage on your insurance policy.

Typically, these repairs are covered under either collision repair, which covers repair to your car regardless of diver fault, or uninsured driver insurance, an optional insurance that covers your car if the other driver does a hit-and-run on your car. We can help you understand your policy and communicate the necessary information to your insurance.

Out-of-Pocket

On the other hand, you might end up paying for repairs out of pocket. Perhaps your insurance won’t cover this damage for some reason, or perhaps you don’t want to involve your insurance company in a claim that is less than your deductible anyway. At Accurate Auto Body, we are happy to work with you directly as well.

Why Choose Accurate Auto Body for Repairs in Denver

If you’re looking to repair your car from parking lot damage in Denver or Aurora, take your car to Accurate Auto Body. Since 1991, we have been doing high-quality repairs for minor and major damage to all common makes and models of cars.

We are one of the most elite body shops in the area, with extensive training. Our mechanics have been Toyota Factory Trained and have been certified by Honda ProFirst Collision Repair, putting us in an elite category that only 4% of auto body shops can claim. In addition, we have achieved I-CAR Gold Class recognition for the level of training and the quality of repairs we perform.

Finally, we have an A+ rating with the BBB. This is because we satisfy our customers with the quality and speed of our repairs. When problems arise, we resolve them quickly to customers’ satisfaction.

You can also count on our Focus on You Service System™. This includes guaranteed pricing, guaranteed completion dates, and a willingness to work around your schedule to minimize the hassle of getting car repairs.

Please call 303-344-2212 or use our contact form to get a free guaranteed estimate on your repairs. Accurate Auto Body serves customers in Denver, Aurora and the surrounding areas of Colorado.

How Long Does Auto Body Repair Take?

Posted on: August 27th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop 3 Comments

When you get in a car accident, you want to get your car repaired, but at the same time you need your car. You depend on it, and you don’t want to be without it for too long. Even if your insurance covers a rental for the repair period, it’s not the same.

So you want to know how long your repair is going to take before you bring the car in. Sometimes delays are related to insurance claims, but we work with your insurance company to minimize these. Then we try to get your car repair done as fast as possible.

Auto Body Repair Can Be Fast

The good news is that auto body repair can be very fast. Repairs to the car’s body can be accomplished in less than a few days. Paintless body repair can be quite fast. You will drop your car off and it might be done the same day. Even more extensive body work doesn’t take very long, until we start adding painting to the schedule.

Auto Painting Can Take Longer

Once your car needs to be painted, the length of time increases. This is just a matter of physics. Paint takes time to dry, and we need to add multiple coats. This means hours of work and hours of waiting.

When we add painting to the list of repairs, the time increases. It might still only be a few days, but it might be a few weeks.

Mechanical Repairs Are Longer

Another factor that can make your repair longer is if there are other components damaged in the accident. Mechanical repairs can take significantly longer for two reasons.

First, these repairs can be harder to accomplish. Old parts might have to be removed and new parts fitted in, which is not always as easy as it should be. The new components have to be tested and adjusted.

Second, it might be hard to get the necessary parts. If the car and/or component is unusual, we might have to order it, which can take days, weeks, or, unfortunately, months. Some parts are especially hard to get, thanks to computer chip shortages and international shipping delays.

It’s important to note that with modern advanced safety systems, there are sometimes components that can be damaged even if it seems like only minor body damage.

At Accurate Auto Body, You Can Count on Our Timing

Sometimes it’s just as important to know exactly how long a repair is going to take as it is to get a quick repair. At Accurate Auto Body, our Focus on You Service™ system includes a highly accurate estimate of the time your repair is going to take. We also work around your schedule. If a car is drivable and safe, you can keep it until we get the parts and/or are ready to start working on it. If we know we’re not going to be able to touch your car until next week, for example, we’ll tell you so that you can make the decision about whether to drop it off now or later. That ensures you won’t be without your car for very long, especially if you only need paintless dent repair.

We also provide you with a highly accurate estimate of the cost of repairs. With our I-CAR Gold Class certification and extensive experience in repairs, we know what to expect for many different auto body repairs. We won’t be surprised by what we find, and because we won’t be surprised, you won’t be either. We take time to find ways to make repairs as affordable as possible. We are also happy to explain all the items on your bill, and make sure you understand all the costs.

Want to get fast, accurate, and affordable auto body repairs? Please call 303-344-2212 or use our form today for a free estimate on the cost and time for your auto body repairs.

7 Tips to Reduce the Risk of an Accident on Your Summer Road Trip

Posted on: July 26th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop No Comments

Although air travel, cruises, and other forms of travel are still giving many individuals cause for hesitation right now, the summer road trip remains a viable alternative for fun vacationing as we get through the pandemic. Whether you’re headed into the mountains or down along the plains from the Front Range, there are many great things to see and do within a reasonable driving distance from Denver.

However, when you head out on a road trip, you could be setting yourself up for an accident if you’re not careful. This accident could be minor, requiring just some auto body repair, or it could be serious, leading to injury for you and your family. Here are 7 simple tips to reduce your risk of getting in an accident on your summer road trip.

Familiarize Yourself with Your Car’s Safety Features

Cars are safer today than they’ve ever been. They have many safety features that can help reduce your risk of accidents. Before heading out on a road trip, take some time with your car’s manual. Figure out what safety features your car has, and how to turn them on or off. Make sure you understand both the benefits of the feature and its limitations.

You shouldn’t lean too heavily on the safety features, but using them properly could reduce your risk of accidents, according to the NHTSA.

Take Frequent Breaks

Remember that no matter how advanced the safety features, they are only intended as supports for careful and safe driving. They don’t replace you being attentive to the road and to other cars. In order to be attentive, you need to take frequent breaks while driving.

Count on stopping every couple of hours for a short break. Get out of the car, stretch, and get something to eat and/or drink. A little bit of vigorous physical activity can do wonders for your alertness level.

Divide the Driving Duty and/or Limit Your Hours Driving

No matter how many times you take a break, at a certain point your body is done and needs to stop driving for the day. For this reason, you should only put in so many hours on the road each day. If you want to go more miles each day, you will need to divide the driving duty between drivers.

But use caution: you can’t really count on driving twice as long if you have two drivers. Most people have a natural biorhythm that makes it impossible to stay awake and alert all night. Even with two drivers, you need to count on stopping overnight if you want to minimize your accident risk.

Delegate Duties

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents on summer road trips (after drowsy driving). Try to minimize distractions by delegating some of the other duties in the car to the person who isn’t driving. Let them handle the radio, the climate control, navigation, food, and other things that need to be done. As the driver, you should put your full focus on driving.

Pull Over for Navigation

Trying to navigate unfamiliar roadways is another leading cause of accidents. Rather than risking an accident by trying a dangerous maneuver when you have to take a surprise turn, it’s a good idea to pull over to make sure you understand upcoming maneuvers when entering an unfamiliar place.

This is especially true if you’re driving alone, but a good idea even if you have someone else navigating. The speed at which you must sometimes change lanes leads to pressure that often causes miscommunication. You take that out of the equation when you pull over and go over navigation with the car safely out of traffic.

Take Advantage of Overlooks

You’re taking a road trip to see more of this wonderful country of ours, so it’s understandable that you might want to gawk at all the beautiful scenery, especially when others in the car are raving about them. You can take a quick glance out the window at the scenery, but if you really want to see it, take the time to pull over and get a good look. Otherwise, you risk having your eyes off the road for too long, which can lead to accidents.

Use a Spotter for Backing in or out

One type of accident that often needs collision repair is backing into an obstacle or another car. You can reduce this risk by utilizing a spotter.

This is a good idea even if you’re accustomed to backing up all the time. You’re in an unfamiliar place, and your vehicle may be packed high with luggage for the road trip. Maybe you’re even towing a trailer. A spotter can tell you about obstacles you might not have noticed or just can’t see from your seat. Backup cameras definitely help these days, but they don’t see everything.

Choose Accurate Auto Body for Your Collision Repair

Even if you’re the most careful driver you can be on a summer road trip, accidents happen. When this occurs, you want to find an auto body shop capable of giving you the repairs you need, on time and on budget.

This is an essential part of our Focus on You Service™ system. We will give you a good estimate of the time and cost of your repairs and get them completed on time and on budget. We also work around your schedule to minimize the disruption in your life. Our mechanics are I-CAR Gold Class certified, with training from Toyota and Honda, so we’re qualified to handle your repairs, including repairs of delicate safety systems.

To get a free estimate on your collision repair, please call 303-344-2212 or use our online contact form to set up an appointment with Accurate Auto Body. We serve individuals in Denver, Aurora and throughout the surrounding areas of Colorado.

Best Vehicle Safety Technology to Reduce Your Risk of an Accident

Posted on: July 22nd, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop No Comments

At Accurate Auto Body, we are an auto body shop that cares. As much as we would love to fix your car in our shop, we would love it even more if you were able to avoid an accident. That’s why we talk a lot about the safety equipment that can help you avoid accidents so you don’t need auto body repair.

The safest vehicles of 2021 are some of the safest of all time, and have many advanced safety features. With so many advanced safety features these days, though, it’s hard to know which ones are really worth investing in. Here are the crash avoidance features recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Forward Collision Warning

Ideally, you will be watching the road and know if you’re at risk of hitting another vehicle. However, your attention might waver for one reason or another, and you need to be warned about possible accidents. A forward collision warning monitors your speed and the speed and distance of vehicles in front of you. If you’re too close, the system warns you so that you can take appropriate action.

This system can also keep you from inadvertently tailgating other cars. That’s good, because nothing will put you on the wrong side of an insurance claim than rear-ending a car because of careless driving.

Lane Departure Warning

This system is looking from your car to find the lane markings on the road. It will then warn you if you start to drift out of your lane. This can help you avoid drifting into parallel or oncoming traffic. However, it doesn’t act to stop the problem, it just provides a warning, which might be a sound, an indicator on the dash, or both.

Automatic Emergency Braking

This type of system is similar to the forward collision warning in that it monitors your speed and the speed and distance between your car and those in front of you. Unlike forward collision warning, though, automatic emergency braking actually engages the brakes to stop the car, preventing an accident when you are about to have one.

This feature may include or be called “dynamic brake support.” Dynamic brake support might either engage the brake directly, or cause more brake power to be applied than you might apply manually.

What about Other Features?

What about other available safety features? Does this mean they’re not worth buying? Not necessarily. The NHTSA notes that all safety features can potentially help you avoid accidents, and it has good words about many of them. However, the above ones are those that have enough theoretical and practical support to justify NHTSA’s endorsement for now. In the future, it’s likely that more technologies will be recognized.

If You Did Have an Accident, Choose Accurate Auto Body

Sometimes, all the safety features in the world can’t protect you from an accident. If that’s the case, you need auto collision repair at a trusted auto body shop. Make Accurate Auto Body your choice.

Our mechanics are I-CAR Gold Class certified, with regular, ongoing training from Honda and Toyota on the best practices in auto repair. We are highly qualified to handle all the repairs on your vehicle. This includes repairing those advanced safety features, which might have components in the body that were damaged in even a minor crash.

In addition, we practice our Focus on You Service™ system. This means we give you a guaranteed quote and a guaranteed completion time. Plus, we educate you on all your options so you can make an educated choice on what repairs are necessary. We strive hard to fix your vehicle the first time, and we’ll work around your schedule.

Want to learn more about what sets Accurate Auto Body apart from other auto body shops in the Denver area? Please call 303-344-2212 or use our online form today for a free estimate.

Tips to Avoid Damage to Your Vehicle when Off-Roading

Posted on: June 30th, 2021 by Accurate Auto Body Shop 1 Comment

We all love to get out of Denver and up into the hills, and that’s a problem. Even in the mountains, it seems like there’s often too many people in Colorado. And that’s part of the reason why many people are trying off-roading. It seems like it’s the only way you can really get away from the crowds. Plus, it’s amazing, dirty, exhausting fun.

However, off-roading does come with risks. If you’re not careful, you can badly dent your vehicle and be in need of an auto body shop when you get home. Updating and expanding our prior collision repair center tips for off-roading, here are some tips that can help you reduce the risk of serious damage to your car when you go off-roading.

Check Your Gear Before You Go

One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from damage is making sure you have all the gear you need, and that it’s all in good shape.

Most important, of course, are your tires. You need tires that are rated for the trail you’re taking, and they should be in good shape. Worn tread can eliminate the benefit of trail-rated tires. Also, if you don’t go off-roading very often, be aware that the rubber in your tires can degrade over time, especially if they’re not stored properly.

Check all your fluids and give your brake system a careful inspection. You want to make sure you’re going to be able to stop on a very steep slope. There are many situations where bad brakes can mean you need collision repair.

You should make sure you’re carrying traction aids like wood blocks. You’ll also regret it if you don’t have a high-lift jack, tow strap, and winch. Don’t forget to be prepared for personal emergencies: a first-aid kit and supplies like food, water, and clothing to stay alive if you get really stuck.

Know Your Route

Take the time to learn your route before you go. At a minimum, read about the trail and check it out on topo maps. Better yet, talk to someone who’s driven it before. Ideally, go with someone who’s driven the trail before.

Don’t forget to account for the weather. Know what the weather’s been like and pay attention to the current condition of the trail.

Your responsibility to know the route doesn’t end once you get on the trail. Sometimes you or someone else in your group has to get out and scout ahead. This is especially important wherever there is standing water. Unless you’ve seen somebody go through a puddle today, verify the depth manually by walking it and/or probing with a stick.

Don’t Go Alone

We’ve mentioned above that it’s good to have a companion who knows your trail. But even if you know a trail, you shouldn’t travel alone. A friend can help scout or spot for you when you’re trying to take a tough, technical trail.

Having another vehicle handy can really help get you out of tight spots.

At a minimum, always tell someone staying behind where you’re going and when you expect to be back, so they can send help if something goes wrong.

Know Your Limits

It’s important to know your limits on the trail. Just because someone else can make it up a slope doesn’t mean that you can, too. They might have better equipment. They might be more experienced off-road drivers. They might have come on a day with better conditions. You have to be prepared to look at a trail and turn around, if possible.

Auto body shops spend a lot of time banging out dents from cars that drove up a slope, then slid or tumbled down. Not to mention all the undercarriage damage from taking paths when you have insufficient clearance.

Accept That You’re Going to Get Damage

However, it’s important to resign yourself to getting some body damage when you go off-roading. Between the rocks and trees, you’re likely going to hit something, have something fall on your car, or get hit by something churned up by another vehicle.

Keep in mind that unless you purchased a specific policy, your insurance won’t cover off-road damage, and you’ll be looking at getting repairs without insurance coverage.

Hopefully, if you follow all the tips above, it will just be cosmetic damage that requires minimal auto body work like paintless dent repair. Maybe if you’re lucky, you might not need anything more than some cleaning and beautification for your car after off-roading.

Don’t Trust Your Off-Road Vehicle to Just Any Auto Body Shop

Your off-road vehicle is a high-performance machine. You’ve put a lot of time and money into getting it just right. You want to make sure the auto body shop you take it to will treat it with the respect it deserves.

At Accurate Auto Body, we understand that your off-road vehicle isn’t just another car. We have the technical skill to handle any complex repairs your vehicle might need, as you can tell from our I-CAR Gold Class and other certifications. But we also pay attention to what’s important to you. That’s the key to our Focus on You Service System™. We listen to what’s important to you and make sure repairs get completed the way you want them, on time, and on quote.

To get a free estimate on your vehicle’s repair, please call 303-344-2212 or contact Accurate Auto Body online today. We serve customers in Denver, Aurora and the surrounding areas of Colorado.