Hammer's Autoworks

Here's a question worth asking any shop before repairs begin: will you be using OEM or aftermarket parts? The answer tells you a lot about the repair you're about to receive.

OEM parts are made by your vehicle's manufacturer and match the fit, finish, and safety performance your car was built with. At Hammer's Autoworks, that's the standard we work to on every repair.

Some shops belong to insurance company repair networks, known as Direct Repair Programs. Those shops agree to certain conditions to stay in the network, and those conditions don't always put your repair first.

Hammer's Autoworks is independent. That means our only obligation is to you and to repairing your vehicle correctly, not to an insurer's cost targets.

The days are getting shorter, and more of your driving now happens in low light. Turn your headlights on early, keep your windshield clean so glare doesn't blind you, and ease off the gas when the first rains hit dry pavement. Wet leaves and early-fall drizzle make roads slicker than they look.

A little caution now keeps a routine drive from turning into a body-shop visit.

Collision damage rarely stops at the surface. What looks like a scuffed bumper can hide a bent frame, a compromised crumple zone, or a safety sensor knocked out of alignment.

That's why an accurate estimate can't happen over the phone or from a photo. Seeing the vehicle in person is the only way to find everything the impact left behind and address it completely.

The minutes right after a collision are stressful, and it's easy to forget what to do. Move to a safe spot if you can, turn on your hazard lights, and check that everyone is okay. Then document everything: photos of both vehicles, the wider scene, and any damage before anything is moved. That record protects you when it's time to file a claim and get your vehicle repaired correctly.

Handing your teenager the car keys for the first time is a big milestone, and it usually comes with a mix of pride and nerves. New drivers are still learning how to judge distance, react to sudden stops, and handle unexpected road conditions.

That means even careful teens face a higher risk of fender benders and collisions during their first year or two behind the wheel. If you have a new teen driver in the house, understanding teen driver collision repair now can save you stress, time, and money later.

Read more here: https://hammersautoworks.com/new-teen-driver-what-parents-should-know/

Fall is the start of deer season on Ozarks roads, and most vehicle-versus-deer collisions happen at dawn and dusk.

Slow down on rural routes and tree-lined stretches, use your high beams when there's no oncoming traffic, and remember that deer travel in groups. Where there's one, there are usually more. If one steps out, brake firmly and stay in your lane.

Swerving often turns a repairable fender into a far worse crash.

Today we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and to honor the first responders who ran toward danger to help others.

We hold those families and their memories close.

After a collision, your insurance company may point you toward a shop in their network. That suggestion is not a requirement. In Missouri, you have the right to choose who repairs your vehicle, no matter which shop your insurer recommends.

Knowing that before you ever need it puts the decision where it belongs—with you.

When Springfield’s campuses fill back up, so do the roads. Late summer brings more cars, more buses, and more young drivers to every neighborhood in the Ozarks. From elementary drop-off lines to college students heading to Missouri State or Drury, the morning and afternoon rush gets busier fast. These back-to-school safe driving tips can help you avoid a collision, protect your family, and keep everyone sharing the road a little safer this season.

Read more here: https://hammersautoworks.com/back-to-school-safe-driving-tips/