A collision is jarring, and the minutes right after are a blur. So here is the calm version. Make sure everyone is safe, document what happened, and know this: you get to choose who repairs your car — not the insurance company. When you're ready, Green Tech Collision Center handles the claim, the paperwork and the repair, so your only job is to heal and get back on the road.
The moment you report an accident to your insurer, it can become a permanent mark on your car's CARFAX and CLUE history — and it can stick even if you never go through with the repair. Once it's reported you can't take it back, and CARFAX doesn't separate a small repair from a major wreck. That mark follows the car for life and lowers its resale and trade-in value, often by $500 to $2,000 or more, even after a flawless repair. So don't open a claim until you're sure.
For smaller damage, paying out of pocket keeps your history clean and avoids a years-long rate hike. Not sure which way the math falls? We'll give you the honest read for free before you file anything.
First make sure everyone is safe and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Then document the scene — photos of the vehicles, the other driver's information and insurance, and any witnesses. File a police report, notify your insurer, and bring your car to a repair shop you choose — not the one the insurer steers you to. That's the whole checklist, and we walk through each step below.
Nobody plans for this, so it's normal for your mind to go blank. The good news is that the important things are simple and slow down nicely once you have a list. You don't have to make a single repair decision at the scene, and you don't have to accept the first shop an adjuster names. In California, that choice is legally yours — a right worth knowing before the phone starts ringing.
Green Tech Collision Center has been the shop Inland Empire drivers turn to since 2006, and part of that job is taking the stress off your plate. Once you've handled the six steps below, one call to us and the claim, the insurer calls and the OEM-correct repair all become our job. Your car goes back the way the manufacturer built it: structure, safety systems, and factory finish, restored correctly the first time.
Check on everyone. If anyone is hurt, call 911. Move out of traffic if it's safe, turn on hazards, and stay calm — nothing else matters until people are okay.
Photograph both vehicles, damage and the scene. Get the other driver's name, phone, license, plate and insurance — and the names of any witnesses.
An official report protects you and speeds up the claim. If officers respond, get the report number; if not, you can file at the station or online.
Report the accident so a claim number is opened. You can tell them you're still deciding on a shop — you are not required to choose one on that first call.
You have the legal right to pick your repair facility. Tell your adjuster you're using Green Tech Collision Center — that's all it takes.
Send photos or bring the car by. We write the OEM-correct estimate and take it to your insurer from there. Start a free estimate.
At the scene or on the first phone call, an adjuster may name a shop and make it sound like the only option. It isn't. In California the choice is legally yours, your policy covers the repair either way, and your deductible is the same. Bring it to a shop that answers to you — then we handle the insurer for you.
A car that looks drivable can still be hiding trouble. A collision can bend structure you can't see, disable or deploy an airbag, start a slow fluid leak, or knock the ADAS cameras and radar that run lane-keep and automatic braking out of calibration. If anything feels off — pulling, strange noises, warning lights, doors or the hood not sitting right — don't drive it.
You don't have to diagnose it yourself. Call us and we'll advise you over the phone, and if needed a post-collision inspection confirms exactly what's safe before you get back on the road. Every accident is different, so there's no flat answer here — which is why the estimate and inspection are free. Send photos or bring it by and we'll tell you honestly what your vehicle needs.
First make sure everyone is safe and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Then document the scene — take photos of the vehicles, get the other driver's information and insurance, and note any witnesses. File a police report, notify your insurer, and bring your car to a repair shop you choose — not the one the insurer steers you to. In California the choice of shop is legally yours, and Green Tech Collision Center handles the claim and paperwork for you.
No. In California you have the legal right to choose your own repair facility. The insurer can suggest a shop from its network, but it cannot require you to use one, and your policy covers the repair no matter which licensed shop you pick. Green Tech Collision Center works with every major insurer and advocates for the repair your vehicle actually needs — not the cheapest version of it.
If the other driver left the scene, you were the victim of a hit-and-run. Still make sure you are safe and call the police so it is officially documented — write down anything you remember about the car, plate and direction of travel, and look for witnesses or nearby cameras. Then notify your insurer; if you carry uninsured-motorist coverage it often applies. We repair hit-and-run damage to OEM specification and handle the claim for you — see our hit-and-run repair page.
Sometimes the real damage is under the surface. Even a car that looks drivable can have a compromised frame, a deployed or disabled airbag, hidden fluid leaks or driver-assist sensors that were knocked out of calibration. If in doubt, do not drive it — call us and we will advise. A post-collision inspection confirms what is actually safe before you get back on the road.
Understand the next steps, then find the repair your vehicle needs — we serve Upland and the surrounding Inland Empire.
Send photos or bring the car by. We'll tell you honestly what the repair takes, handle your insurer, and put your vehicle back the way the manufacturer built it. No pressure, no guesswork — just the repair done correctly, the first time.