Everything in the table finished green, with LKQ leading the way at +4%, as the broader market caught a bid across the board today.
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Good morning, {{firstName}}.
The Collision Industry Conference just released data showing safety inspections are required after almost every collision, but shops and insurers still can't agree on what that means or who pays for it. That friction costs you money every week.
INDUSTRY
1. CIC panel: Safety inspections remain largest industry friction point
Eighty-five percent of CIC attendees said safety inspections are required after any collision, but the industry is still fractured on standards, scope, and billing. Shops absorb cost. Insurers push back. No unified language exists. This is the single biggest source of supplement denials and labor disputes in the room right now.
Mark says: Document your safety inspection process in writing and cite it on every estimate before the insurer sees it.
2. Tesla Model 3 and Y suspension failure under NHTSA investigation
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened a probe into nearly 1.2 million Tesla vehicles following 156 complaints of suspension failure. The investigation covers multiple model years. Expect repair volume and potential recalls in the next 60 days.
Mark says: Add Tesla Model 3 and Y suspension to your recall check-in routine starting this week.
3. Lucid publishes new glass and glazing position statement
Lucid uploaded an updated glass and glazing position statement to OEM1Stop that defines repair facility responsibilities for windshield and front glass condition. Covers when replacement is required versus when repair is acceptable. Print this and have it available for every Lucid estimate.
Mark says: Pull the statement now and attach it to every Lucid glass supplement before an insurer denies it.
4. New Jersey court: Insurance brokers can't dodge Consumer Fraud Act
New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled that insurance brokers, producers, and agents are subject to the state's Consumer Fraud Act and cannot claim exemption. The decision opens the door for shops to pursue fraud claims against carriers for underpayment and denial practices. Relevant to multi-state operators and franchise systems.
Mark says: If you operate in NJ, this ruling strengthens your legal leverage on systematic underpayment disputes.
5. IIHS: Smaller, more powerful vehicles have highest driver death rates
A new IIHS report shows more than half of 2023 vehicles with the highest driver death rates are small cars, sports cars, or muscle cars. Safety performance varies drastically by model. Collision shops will see more severe injuries from these vehicles. Insurance carriers and fleet buyers should be paying attention to repair complexity and post-repair safety validation.
Mark says: Use this data to justify ADAS and structural calibration requirements on high-risk vehicle segments.
Denied a safety inspection charge or ADAS recalibration? Reply with the claim and insurer name. We'll send you an OEM-backed rebuttal in 60 seconds, free. No pitch.
Published by Absolute ADAS. Mark Fowler, owner. Mobile ADAS calibration in Western Washington. 50,000+ calibrations on the floor.
👀 Tomorrow: watch for NHTSA's next move on the Tesla suspension probe as 60-day recall window opens and NJ shops weigh Consumer Fraud Act claims against carriers.