Central Arkansas was plagued by tornadoes this past March, and now collision repair facilities in the area are reporting backlogs of up to a year, KARK reports.
Several technicians in the region have cited the increase in wait times resulting in frustrated customers, with some repairs not being able to be completed until next year.
Larry Golden of Golden Collision Center said that prior to the tornadoes, local shops were already close to–if not already at–full capacity. Most repairs that would take a matter of weeks have been pushed back to six or eight months.
Golden said that he is upfront with his customers about what they need to expect and that the biggest issue causing strife is the lack of access to parts, which he said has been an issue for his shop since the COVID pandemic.
Though minor repairs such as a broken window could be completed within a week, bigger repairs will require much more time. Golden has urged drivers to be patient as shops work through the backlog.
“We have some amazing shops [and] some really good technicians in this town,” Golden said. “They are doing their very best, just like we are to try to help people.”
