Print a stack (Ctrl/Cmd+P) for the counter and the waiting room. It reads like help, not an ad — people keep what helps them.
Keep this — you'll want it tonight
Just crashed?
Breathe.
I'm Angel — a collision estimator in Los Angeles. This page is the five-minute version of what I tell my own friends after an accident. No catch, no pitch. It's just easier to read this at home than to figure it out at a counter.
1 · Before you leave the scene / the shop
- Photos of everything — all four corners of both cars, the other plate, their insurance card, the street.
- Don't discuss fault — not to the other driver, not on the phone. “I'm getting checked out and I'll follow up” is a complete sentence.
- If it's towed, YOU say where it goes. A tow yard charges storage by the day.
- Anything hurts? Doctor today. Paper trail beats toughing it out.
2 ·Your rights in California (most people don't know these)
- You choose the body shop. Your insurer can recommend one — some recommended shops are excellent — but by law (Ins. Code 758.5) the choice is yours, and they can't punish you for it.
- You can get your own estimate before agreeing to anything. A second set of eyes is normal, not rude.
- “Total loss” is math, not a verdict — repair cost + salvage value vs. what your car's worth. The number worth checking is what they say your car is worth.
3 · The three decisions coming your way
- Claim it, or pay cash? Get the real repair number FIRST — small damage is sometimes cheaper out of pocket than a claim.
- Repair or total? Don't argue the damage — check their value number against real listings for your exact car.
- Which shop? Pick on reputation and communication, never on pressure. A good shop welcomes your questions.
When the adrenaline wears off
(213) 279-2992Call or text me a photo of your car — or any paperwork — and I'll tell you what I see. Free, no pressure, no spam.
Or from the couch tonight: 30-second ballpark estimate · total-loss calculator · estimate decoder — all free at yourcrashangel.com
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