SQR One Coll1sion outlines Arkansas drivers’ repair rights after a crash

SQR One Coll1sion is urging Central Arkansas drivers to know their repair rights as deer-collision season peaks from October through December. The Cabot body shop says drivers can choose their repair facility, should expect hidden damage and supplements, and need to check parts and ADAS calibration before approving repairs.

Why it matters: - Deer-related crashes rise across Arkansas in the fall, and a collision that looks minor can still hide structural, mechanical and safety-system damage. - Repair decisions can affect cost, timeline, warranty coverage, resale value and whether modern safety systems work correctly after the crash. - Arkansas drivers also have a legal right to choose where their vehicle is repaired, which can change how claims are handled.

What happened: - SQR One Coll1sion, a family-owned auto body shop in Cabot, Arkansas, issued consumer guidance for drivers after a collision. - The shop operates at 170 Taylor Ln and serves Cabot, Ward, Austin, Furlow, Beebe, Jacksonville, Sherwood, Vilonia and surrounding Central Arkansas communities. - The guidance covers shop choice, hidden damage, estimate supplements, OEM parts, ADAS checks, diminished value and what to do after a crash. - The information is general consumer guidance and not legal advice.

The details: - Arkansas research and insurance data show deer collisions peak from October through December, with November producing the highest number of reported crashes in one University of Arkansas at Monticello analysis. - A State Farm analysis reported in December 2025 put Arkansas at about a 1-in-95 annual chance of hitting a deer, ranking the state 16th nationally. - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials have noted that deer move most around dawn and dusk, which overlaps with commuting hours in late fall. - Modern vehicles can hide damage behind bumpers, grilles and body panels, including damage to radiators, condensers, headlamp mounts, hood latch supports and radar sensors. - Collision repair shops typically remove damaged panels during disassembly to find parts that were not visible in the first inspection. - Drivers should be cautious about dismissing cosmetic-looking damage, because broken clips, damaged sensors and bent mounts can affect fit, sealing, cooling and safety equipment. - An initial insurance estimate usually reflects only visible damage before teardown. - When a shop finds more damage during disassembly, it documents the findings and submits a supplement request for insurer approval. - Supplements are routine and usually reflect damage that could not be seen at the first inspection. - Replacement parts generally fall into OEM parts, aftermarket parts and used or recycled OEM parts. - Arkansas law has required OEM crash parts for vehicles still under the manufacturer’s original warranty unless the owner gives written consent otherwise. - SQR One Coll1sion says it uses OEM parts and crash-certified aftermarket parts depending on customer preference, insurance coverage and budget. - Late-model vehicles often use cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors for ADAS features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. - Even a small change in a sensor’s mounting angle can affect how the system detects objects. - Many automakers require inspection and recalibration after a collision, a windshield replacement or removal of a bumper or mounting bracket. - Pre-repair and post-repair diagnostic scans can reveal stored fault codes that do not trigger a dashboard warning light. - A vehicle with an accident history may sell or trade for less than a comparable vehicle without one, a difference known as diminished value. - In Arkansas, a driver may generally pursue a diminished value claim against an at-fault driver’s liability insurer as a third-party claim, while claims under the driver’s own collision coverage depend on policy language.

Between the lines: - The shop is making a consumer-rights argument as much as a repair argument: drivers should not assume the insurer controls where repairs happen or which parts get used. - The guidance also reflects how modern repairs have become more technical, with hidden damage, sensor calibration and documentation now central to both safety and claim outcomes. - Joe Ruff, owner of SQR One Coll1sion, said many people wrongly believe they must take a car wherever the insurance company sends them. - Ruff said drivers should choose a shop they trust to find all the damage and repair it correctly, whether that shop is SQR One Coll1sion or another facility. - According to the company, its technicians hold I-CAR certification. - The company says most vehicles are ready for pickup within one to two weeks, depending on damage severity and parts availability.

What's next: - Drivers with a crash should first make the scene safe, call 911 if anyone is injured and report the accident to law enforcement. - After a deer strike, drivers should not approach an injured animal. - Arkansas allows a driver to keep a deer killed in a collision only after notifying wildlife authorities. - Drivers should photograph the scene, exchange insurance information, notify their insurer promptly and keep copies of all estimates, supplements, invoices and repair records. - Before approving work, drivers should ask whether calibration is required, which parts will be used and whether the shop follows the vehicle manufacturer’s repair procedures. - Drivers who believe their vehicle lost value after a crash they did not cause should review documentation and ask their insurer or an attorney whether a diminished value claim is available.

The bottom line: - Arkansas drivers have more control over collision repairs than many realize, but they also need to ask the right questions before the car goes into the bay.