New Assignment: When a new assignment is received, we make immediate contact with the insured or claimant. A strategically placed appraiser is assigned, and the new appraisal is paged, via text message, to that appraiser. In many cases with automobile assignments, assignments may be inspected same day. Units at tow yards and shops will be inspected within one day of receipt of the assignments. Units still with the owner may take additional time to set up an appointment to inspect. We will work with insured and meet them at their place of business, a roadside location, or their residence. An assignment acknowledgement with our file number, the appraisers name and contact information will be e-mailed to you.

Inspection: DANA appraisers inspect units and are required by our standards to obtain photographs that include:

Four corner shots

VIN (Dash or door)

Plate

Mileage (Odometer or oil sticker)

Visible damaged areas

         Our appraisers also carry Keson rods to determine the height of the impact and magnetic arrows to place on the unit to highlight hard to see damages (i.e. hail). As soon as the unit is inspected, our appraiser contacts the insured and our home office with the results of the inspection. The inspection status is documented in our claims management system and reported to you along with an estimated time for completion.

Completed Reports: We can transmit our final reports by fax, e-mail, snail mail uploaded to third party sites, or retrieved from our client access portal. Our average turnaround time from assignment to completion on automobile units is 3.08 days not including weekends and holidays.

Delays: Can every appraisal be inspected within 48 hours and reported within 72 hours? This is what we strive for, however, contact delays, necessary tear downs, driver appointment requests, and availability of part prices for certain types of damage appraisals may delay completion. If this occurs, you will receive timely updates until the appraisal in completed.

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