FAQ | Dein Gutachter

© Hotz & Silik GbR

Questions & Answers

Data Policy

Impressum

Questions & Answers

about the Process of Our Work, Questions about Liability, Fictional Billing, and other common topics and terms!

Especially in the case of a non-self-inflicted accident, you should always involve your own assessor and not leave the assessment of the damage to the opposing insurance company. This ensures that the damage is truly assessed neutrally and prevents you from being stuck with high costs. The assessor's fee must always be covered by the opposing insurance company! So: You're not at fault - you don't pay anything! In case of dispute, it's often advisable to contact an expert and have an assessment of the accident made. If partial fault is determined, the assessor's fee will be divided proportionally between the victim and the (partially) liable insurance company. In any case, we stand by your side and provide advice on your situation beforehand without obligation. You can contact us around the clock via our contact form or WhatsApp! If you cause damage yourself, the choice of expert is not up to you. Report the damage to your insurance company; they will take care of everything else.
A traffic accident is an exceptional situation for most people and not an everyday occurrence. Before considering fictional billing and involving your assessor, it's essential to secure the accident scene and, if necessary, call emergency services. We'll take care of the claims process later.

Here's what you can or should do at the accident scene:

Take pictures of the accident scene.

Take pictures of the license plates.

(especially in case of dispute) Notify the police and have them document the accident.

Photograph the driver's license/ID of the other party involved in the accident.
The expert's fee must always be borne by the at-fault party or their insurance following an accident. If you are not at fault, you won't have to pay. In cases of partial fault in an accident, the fee is settled proportionately. If you are the victim, you can simply contact us and commission an assessment; you don't need explicit consent from the opposing insurance. We'll take care of the billing with the insurance company.
Yes, in the case of a liability claim, which refers to damages for which someone else is responsible, you always have the right to choose an impartial expert. The costs for this must be covered by the liable party or their insurance. This is universally applicable, and every insurance company is aware of it.
When contact us, we'll gather the essential details of your issue and schedule an appointment to inspect your vehicle and assess the damage. Feel free to send us pictures of the accident beforehand. During the appointment, one of our assessors will thoroughly examine your car and the damage, capturing evidence in the form of photos. Depending on the extent of the damage, this process may take several hours, but we can estimate it beforehand.

Subsequently, the actual extent of the damage will be determined, taking into account all factors such as the vehicle's depreciation. We'll prepare a comprehensive and informative report detailing the damage and associated costs.
Yes, after the assessment is completed, we take care of sending the report to the liable insurance company. We also handle obtaining our fee directly from the insurance company, so you don't have to worry about any hassles.
We always aim for a prompt handling of your request. Typically, we can offer you an appointment within the next 24 hours on weekdays. Your damage assessment will then be promptly prepared. Depending on the extent of the damage and our workload, this may take an additional 1-2 business days.
A liability claim is a damage for which someone else is responsible and liable. In Germany, liability insurance, which only covers damages caused to the other party in self-inflicted accidents, is mandatory for every vehicle. As the victim, you have the right to claim against the liable insurance company. In this case, you always have the right, at the expense of the insurance company, to choose your own expert to ensure an impartial assessment of the incurred damage.
In cases of partial fault, our fee is split proportionally among the involved parties. For instance, if there's a 50% share of fault, each party is responsible for 50% of the bill.
If there are doubts about the circumstances or the question of fault following a traffic accident, a vehicle confrontation often occurs to clarify the situation. During this process, not only the vehicle damage but also the traffic situation and road conditions are taken into account to determine liability for the damage.
Yes, we come to you or to your vehicle for the appointment. We primarily operate in the Central Hesse region.
Insurance companies may request a repair confirmation after a claim, and we confirm that specific work has been carried out professionally and properly. Privately, you can also commission us to verify whether a repair has been conducted correctly or if certain parts have indeed been replaced.
For instance, following an accident, insurance companies may require a confirmation of loss of use from you to provide a replacement vehicle. We confirm that your vehicle is no longer roadworthy, thus validating the loss of use.
You are not required to repair the damage to your vehicle; instead, you can opt to accept money for the settlement of the damage. This is called "fictional billing" and is regulated by law. In many cases, this makes sense. It's important to note that a 19% value-added tax is deducted from the payout. So, you receive the net amount that would have been necessary for the repair.