Since Baccari’s Auto Body has been in business, cars have become much safer resulting in auto fatalities declining. The following table features statistics from New York State as reported by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).   1975 1985 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 1975/2020 Fatalities 2,366 2,006 1,679 1,460 1,434 1,201 1,136 1,046 -56% Per 100 MVMT* 3.63 2.22 1.46 1.13 1.03 0.92 0.93 1.02 -72% To summarize, fatalities have dropped 56% over the past 45 years from 2,366 to 1,046 in New York. Better still, the fatality rate has improved 72% from 3.63 pe ..read more

Twenty-five years ago, the average new car retailed for just under $20,000. In 2021, new car prices soared almost 20% to top $45,000. This surge was driven by COVID’s impact on parts, electronics, consumer demand, price gouging and factory shuttering. The part shortages and the price increases for new automobiles have spiked the price of used cars as well. It has wreaked havoc with collision repair scheduling and costs. Still, consumers have embraced “it’s cheaper to keep (their car) than replace” as evidenced by the average age of light vehicles in the US increasing to an all-time high of 12 ..read more

We are in the information age – but cars are mechanical instruments. In the past couple of decades, cars have become increasingly computerized. The average car has 30+ different computers; the most advanced cars have north of 100 computers with a similar number of electronic sensors. Software controls or assists electronic steering, engine timing, transmission shifting, air bag deployment, and object or lane detection, among other things. So, computers have been both a plus and a minus to auto body repair. On the positive side, computers help avoid accidents and help improve maintenance. On t ..read more

If you keep your car covered, garaged, and far from any other moving object, this article is not for you. For everyone else, the reality is your car isn’t always garaged; work, errands or trips require you to drive every now and then. Occasionally, you’ll have to park in a public lot. As a result, you are bound to get some surface damage from any random item – such as a hailstorm, a falling acorn, a flying pebble, or an opening car door. Worse still, you might experience intentional keying or an actual collision that results in your car’s immaculate paint job having some type of imperfection ..read more

Around 6 million car accidents happen every year resulting in 18% of vehicles being totaled. In New York State, if the cost to repair your car exceeds 75% of its fair market value (FMV), your car is deemed a total loss. It is pretty straightforward to declare that the designation of “total loss” increases as either repair cost increases or fair market value decreases. Typically, your car’s FMV depreciates over time or with miles driven. The more extensive the damage, the higher the costs of parts and labor. So, how do airbags impact the cost of repair? Airbags Add Costs to Collision Repair An ..read more

In our four decades of performing auto body repairs – except for low-volume foreign cars – it would typically take a day (or no more than a week) to get car parts for most makes. Now in winter 2022, it sometimes takes weeks or months to get parts even for popular models from volume leaders such as Ford, Honda, or Toyota. During the earlier part of the pandemic, there were manufacturing delays stemming from shuttered factories, both domestically and internationally. Lately, ships in California are waiting to be unloaded with auto parts coming from overseas. Throughout the country, trucks are ex ..read more

Auto collisions in New York are governed by no-fault insurance laws. If your bodily injuries are considered “minor”, then medical expenses or lost wages are paid by your own insurance policy under a PIP (personal injury protection) provision. Injuries that exceed $50,000 in medical expense, including death, loss of a limb or extended disability can trigger motorists to seek damages on an at-fault basis. Additionally, property damage is paid for on an at-fault basis. Fault is assessed by insurance companies applying state law to their interpretation of the details of the accident. A policyholde ..read more

When you get behind the steering wheel of a car, in addition to road hazards, you face financial risk. To mitigate this risk, you purchase insurance – possibly without fully understanding all the details. No-fault auto insurance is mandatory in New York state. It covers medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits up to a limit of $50,000. With that said, motorists face other major categories of financial risk: A long hospital stay, or prolonged disability could easily exceed the $50,000 liability limit In a collision, there may be other types of potential liability – such as property dama ..read more

We have gathered 15 pointers for older adults to improve their safety when driving. The tips fit into three groupings – know yourself, seek the best road conditions, and assure the equipment you are using is at its optimum. Here is the overall list to help older drivers stay safe: Stay physically fit and mentally sharp Maximize senses – auditory, visual, tactile Manage medications Be alert Reduce distractions Keep a clear mind Pace yourself Make time your friend Refresh your driving skills and education Choose the safest conditions Pay attention to road signs Be familiar with the route Take a ..read more

Your bumper is looking busted. Do you repair or replace? We’ll offer some broad guidance as to which course of action to take: REPAIR                                                            REPLACE Slight Scratches                                           Large Cracks / Holes Small Dent              ..read more