Statistically, auto collisions increase from the months of June to August. We see an increase in customers bringing in their vehicles for collision repairs during this season. Why are summer car accidents so commonplace? What’s the reason behind the sudden spike?

Teens Are Out of School

According to studies, teens spend 44% more time driving in the summer than during the school months. Naturally, teens are newbies on the road. Less experience driving means more mistakes, such as failing to signal, yielding the right of way, or exceeding the speed limit.

The Heat

Heat indirectly leads to car crashes. How so? High heat leads to issues like tire blowouts and engine overheating, both of which occur mid-commute. This may lead to a collision before the driver can safely pull over. Motorists should use this time to assess their coolant levels and tire pressure. Also, this is a good time to sign up with AAA or other roadside service assistance.

Vacationing Season

More drivers are on the road embarking on lengthy commutes across state lines. This adds to more traffic on highways and freeways, creating a greater likelihood of minor to major fender benders. Drivers may also be more distracted as they fiddle with their GPS or other driving aid.

Road Construction

Construction companies take on more projects in the summer. More road work means more lane closures and drivers having to take an alternative and unfamiliar route. Increased detours and more cars crammed into fewer lanes ultimately lead to more collisions.

Stay Safe from Summer Car Accidents in or Around Highlands

Involved in a collision? From minor fender benders to major collisions, you can rely on Doug’s Auto Collision Center for repairs. We handle the full restoration process, from dent repair to frame straightening. Be mindful on the road this season to avoid summer car accidents.

Collision Repair for Summer Car Accidents Near Highlands

Serving Customers in Bellevue, Renton, Highlands, Factoria, Issaquah and Mercer Island

Posted on June 14, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

Car owners have a tendency to gravitate towards quick fixes to save time and money. After all, isn’t this avenue worth exploring if it can prevent a trip to the local collision repair shop? Car dent pullers are one such quick-fix permeating the market. Do they actually pull a dent back into place? 

Car Dent Pullers Near Issaquah; How They Work

A car dent puller performs precisely what its name suggests. You can find these gadgets at your typical automotive store and certainly on Amazon. They range from $15 to $80. Two main styles of pullers are available: suction and glue-based pullers.

Suction pullers work like a plunger. Attach it to the dent, and the suction power pulls the metal back into place. You may have to apply the puller multiple times to get it to firmly attach to the frame.

With glue-based pullers, you glue the device onto the dent. The puller has leg-like attachments that sit just outside the dent. The puller has a tab that you twist to pull the dent back in place.

Do They Work?

Do these pullers actually work as seen on television and in demonstrations? Here’s the truth: pullers may work on shallow dents. On deeper dents, they may not work, or if it does, it may leave a permanent indentation and a clear sign that a dent was once there. Think about it; if dent pullers truly worked like magic, then there would be no need for professional paintless dent repairs.

We don’t advise using dent pullers if paint damage is also present. A professional technician will need to fix the auto paint upon restoring the dent.

We Restore all Dents

Only an auto technician can completely restore a dent. Store-bought dent pullers are only effective on the most surface-level dents. For more severe blemishes, bring your car to Doug’s Auto Collision Center. In spite of the claims, car dent pullers simply often don’t perform the way they’re marketed.

Car Dent Pullers not Working? Let Us Help Near Issaquah

Serving Customers in Bellevue, Renton, Highlands, Factoria, Issaquah and Mercer Island

Posted on May 14, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

What appears on the surface to be a minor collision can cause hidden damage. This can make your vehicle unsafe should another collision take place at a later point. This is why frame measuring is a big deal as part of the collision repair process.

Frame Measuring Explained

Before we discuss frame measuring, we need to explain what happens during an automotive impact. When two vehicles collide, the frame absorbs the majority of force to lessen the impact in the interior. This can cause the frame to bend or warp out of alignment. This may also occur in areas of the frame opposite of the impact zone.

Frame measuring assesses the degree that the frame is out of alignment after a collision. Doug’s Auto Collision Center employs a computerized system that includes lasers, ultrasound technology, and other commercial devices to ensure absolute precision. The frame measurement process examines whether a frame can be restored or if it needs to be replaced. If the latter, data acquired from the system determines the precise measurement and specs for the replacement frame. Continue Reading →

Auto paint is susceptible to erosion from exposure to everyday items. Here’s a list of such items that you may have in close proximity to your car. Keep in mind that they can cause car paint damage despite containing seemingly normal and harmless compounds.

1. Soda and Coffee

Do you make routine beverage runs at your local cafe or gas station? Do you set the drink on the hood while fumbling with the keys? Even a small spill can damage the paint. Both coffee and fountain drinks are acidic in nature and can strip the paint of its exterior coating. On top of that, the sugar can cause a grimy residue.

2. Shaving Cream

Spraying shaving cream on a vehicle is an age-old prank. What’s the harm? After all, it washes right off with water, right? Actually, this can be quite damaging. Shaving cream contains a resin that can leave behind a stain after it dries out. If your car is a victim of the shaving cream prank, use a hose to wash away the cream right away. Continue Reading →

Bellevue is by no means the snowiest region, though snowfall does occur in winter from time to time. This can be detrimental to your vehicle. How so? We discuss how snow damage increases the probability of a collision.

How Does Snow Damage Your Car?

During winter, city employees spray the road with salt to de-ice the surface. While great for making roads less slippery, the salt mixes with the ice. When the snow melts, the saltwater results in a chemical reaction that corrodes metal. It also erodes the auto paint. Worse still, the saltwater can reach the suspension and cause structural damage. Eventually, it gradually makes its way to exposed parts, such as the shocks, joints, and engine block.

Snow Increases Odds of an Accident

Snow makes roads increasingly slippery, though the salt does improve the traction and tire-gripping ability. Snow can also freeze the windshield wipers against the glass, rendering them inoperable. Most commuters are oblivious to this until they try to switch the wipers on mid-commute. When the rain/snow obscures your view and the wipers won’t respond, visibility becomes a major issue, elevating the chances of an accident. Always inspect the wipers beforehand.

Continue Reading →

More insurance agencies are shortening the claims process with insurance photo estimates. Just snap a photo of the damage and submit it to the agency. Several weeks later, you receive a check in the mail. Is this process legit, or are you being low-balled?

The Truth About Insurance Photo Estimates in Mercer Island

We don’t deny that photo estimates are convenient and save you tremendous time and hassle. This reduces a lot of logistics for both the insured motorist and insurance company. Some agencies even have their own crash claim app.

You definitely need to snap photos of all collision damage, including minor dents and auto paint scratches. However, according to insurance data, two-thirds of claims are underpaid if the cases are resolved within two days. The odds increase when you solely rely on photo estimates. Continue Reading →

For a collision or other auto repair, you need to obtain a repair estimate. One of the inquiries we get frequently is if we charge for an estimate. The short answer is no. More accurately, though, it depends on whether you’re requesting a preliminary estimate or an accurate estimate.

What Is a Preliminary Repair Estimate?

We don’t charge for a preliminary repair estimate. In fact, we recommend avoiding any collision shops that charge for this basic service.

For a preliminary estimate, bring your car to our station. We’ll take note of the surface-level damages, determine labor cost, and factor in other potential work, such as auto paint restoration.

This service comes at no cost to the customer, but the estimate is in the ballpark range. Expect the actual cost to be plus or minus a few hundred dollars. In rare instances, the difference could be in the four-digit range

Many car owners take their car to two or three collision shops for a preliminary repair estimate. It’s not unusual to get widely different figures between shops.

Continue Reading →

Autumn is here. For various tree species, this means the yearly cycle of shedding their leaves in preparation for new growth. Leaves are practically weightless and may seem harmless. However, car damage from leaves is actually a real thing.

How Do Leaves Damage Your Car?

The damage is primarily at the aesthetic level. Fall leaves decompose wherever they land. As the natural decomposition process occurs, the leaves ooze sap, tannic acids, and other natural compounds. If leaves remain on your vehicle for hours, they can degrade onto the surface and damage the auto paint. In some instances, it may also leave a fossil-like imprint on your vehicle. While autumn leaves don’t cause dents, they can lead to micro-abrasions.

Highlands and surrounding cities have relatively humid fall weather. The moisture and fluctuation in warm and cool air speed up the leaves’ deterioration process and hastens erosion to car surfaces.

Leaves on the road also indirectly damage your vehicle. Leaves cover up potholes, curbs, and dips in the road. Wet fall leaves can also create slippery surfaces and increase the chances of the car spinning out of control and causing a collision. Continue Reading →

While not too common, wildlife may wander into the urban outreach of cities like Factoria. Sighting the occasional deer or buck is a beautiful sight. However, an animal collision is also not that uncommon. What exactly do you do if this happens?

Does My Insurance Cover It?

Most comprehensive car insurance do cover damage from collisions with a large animal. Collision coverage, despite its name, typically doesn’t cover damages from hitting an animal. The average collision repair cost for colliding with a deer, by the way, is about $3,200.

I Hit an Animal; What Do I Do?

Don’t drive away from the scene. This is considered a hit-and-run and may incur state penalties. First, pull over and switch on the emergency lights. Make sure everyone is okay and contact local law enforcement. We highly suggest taking pictures of the damage. The documentation will come in handy when filing a claim with your insurance.

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Here’s an interesting fact: modern cars contain a large number of plastic components. Parts, such as the interior bumper, door panels, and equipment housing, contain mainly plastic material. With this in mind, collision repair shops need to be knowledgeable in car body plastic repairs.

Why All the Plastic?

People unfairly demonize plastic as being cheap and inferior material. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Plastic reduces a car’s weight and improves fuel economy. Plastic is also more resistant to corrosion. Once the car is headed for the scrapyard, the plastic is easier to recycle and reuse than steel and aluminum. Continue Reading →