https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/Collision repair guides for Bradenton drivershttps://firkinsautobody.com/blog/choosing-a-body-shop-in-bradenton-checklist/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/choosing-a-body-shop-in-bradenton-checklist/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Not all body shops are the same. Use this checklist to compare training, warranties, parts policies, insurance help, towing, loaners, and your Florida estimate rights.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/is-my-car-totaled-florida-total-loss/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/is-my-car-totaled-florida-total-loss/Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500How insurers decide a car is totaled, what Florida's salvage title law actually says, how settlement value is supposed to be documented, and what your options are.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/florida-pip-and-property-damage-explained/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/florida-pip-and-property-damage-explained/Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Florida's minimum auto insurance is $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability. Here's what that really covers after a crash, and the gaps to know about.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/bumper-repair-vs-replacement/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/bumper-repair-vs-replacement/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Scuffed, cracked, or pushed in? Here's how a body shop decides whether to repair or replace a bumper, including sensors, tabs, and hidden reinforcements.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/rental-car-coverage-during-repairs/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/rental-car-coverage-during-repairs/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Whether your rental is covered depends on who caused the crash and what's on your policy. Here's how it works in Florida, and how to avoid surprise bills.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/adas-sensors-after-a-collision/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/adas-sensors-after-a-collision/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, and blind spot alerts rely on sensors that a collision can knock out of alignment. Here's what to ask after a crash.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/hurricane-and-flood-damaged-cars-florida/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/hurricane-and-flood-damaged-cars-florida/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500What to do if a hurricane or flood damages your car in Manatee County, how Florida brands flood titles, and how to avoid buying a flood car later.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/why-repair-estimates-change-supplements/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/why-repair-estimates-change-supplements/Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0500Estimates often grow once a car is taken apart. Here's why supplements happen, how they're approved, and what Florida law says about going over an estimate.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/hidden-damage-after-a-fender-bender/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/hidden-damage-after-a-fender-bender/Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0500A bumper that looks fine can be hiding crushed absorbers, cracked brackets, or a misaligned sensor. Here's what to look for after a minor crash.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/hail-damage-and-paintless-dent-repair-manatee-county/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/hail-damage-and-paintless-dent-repair-manatee-county/Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0500Yes, it hails in Florida. Here's how to assess hail dents, when paintless dent repair is the right fix, how comprehensive claims usually work, and what to watch for after a storm.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/jeep-wrangler-collision-repair-guide/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/jeep-wrangler-collision-repair-guide/Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0500Wranglers are built differently than most vehicles. Here's what owners should know about materials, frame damage, parts, lifts, and accessories after a collision.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/oem-vs-aftermarket-parts/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/oem-vs-aftermarket-parts/Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0500The difference between OEM, aftermarket, and recycled collision parts, what Florida's disclosure law requires on your estimate, and how to talk to your insurer about it.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/diminished-value-claims-florida/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/diminished-value-claims-florida/Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0500A repaired car can still be worth less than it was before the crash. Here's how diminished value works in Florida, what courts have said, and how to build your case.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/collision-repair-estimate-explained/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/collision-repair-estimate-explained/Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0500Body shop estimates are full of abbreviations. Here's a plain-English guide to R&I, R&R, refinish, blend, clear coat, materials, and the different labor types.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/how-long-does-collision-repair-take/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/how-long-does-collision-repair-take/Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500Minor repairs often take a few days; major damage can take several weeks. Here's what actually controls the timeline and what you can do to keep things moving.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/love-bugs-and-car-paint-damage/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/love-bugs-and-car-paint-damage/Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500Twice a year, love bugs splatter across every car on I-75. Here's when the seasons hit, why they damage paint, and how to clean them off without scratching.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/protecting-new-paint-in-florida-sun/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/protecting-new-paint-in-florida-sun/Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500Fresh paint needs a little extra care, especially under the Florida sun. Here's what to do (and not do) in the first 30 days and for years after.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/signs-of-frame-damage/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/signs-of-frame-damage/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500Frame and unibody damage isn't always obvious. Learn the warning signs, why it matters for safety, and how a shop measures and repairs it.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/florida-right-to-choose-your-body-shop/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/florida-right-to-choose-your-body-shop/Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500What Florida law says (and doesn't say) about choosing your own collision repair shop, plus practical steps Bradenton drivers can take to protect their repair.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/file-insurance-claim-or-pay-out-of-pocket/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/file-insurance-claim-or-pay-out-of-pocket/Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500A small dent might not be worth a claim, but a 'small' bumper hit can hide expensive damage. Here's how to decide, including what Florida law says about surcharges.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/salt-air-and-sun-damage-anna-maria-island/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/salt-air-and-sun-damage-anna-maria-island/Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500Island living is tough on a car. Here is how salt air and Florida sun attack paint and metal, what to watch for, and how to slow the damage down.https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/what-to-do-after-a-car-accident-in-bradenton/https://firkinsautobody.com/blog/what-to-do-after-a-car-accident-in-bradenton/Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0500A calm, step-by-step checklist for the minutes, days, and weeks after a crash in Bradenton, including Florida's reporting rules and the 14-day PIP deadline.