An insurance “totaled car” doesn't mean taken apart, smashed and totaled. it could also mean hurt by an insured event such as water damage or vandalism. so you can save your money and self-insure, or hire a lawyer to fight the insurance company for you.
an insurance company will never admit responsibility for a vehicle if it believes there is any chance that they would have to pay more than the salvage value of the vehicle – because why lose money? make sure you call an experienced lawyer who can advocate on your behalf and ensure that everything is done correctly so that there are no loopholes left open. if your claim goes through then persistence pays off: if it doesn't then don't give up! find another
do i have to accept the insurers offer on a totaled vehicle?
follow this procedue for insuring a vehicle.
the process is pretty simple, but it all really depends on the company. every single insurer is different so you should contact them to find out more about what they will do in your specific situation. as general rules go, if the car has been totaled or wrecked*, most insurance companies are happy to offer you comparable cars with terms that match your needs (if not that same type of vehicle entirely). this doesn't always mean comparably priced cars that fit into your budget, but typically insurers will try to save you money by finding an affordable replacement vehicle instead of what's best for the company. another note is that many insurers require drivers over 25 years old to pass a driving test
how do you negotiate a totaled car with insurance?
the first step is to make sure you have a list of all the insurance providers to contact, and then get in contact with them for questions about your policy.
secondly, call your agent and company right away. completing this step early can help prevent any misunderstandings from popping up later on. make sure that you question if the other party involved is insured – if they are not insured, to let them know so they don't say anything false when it comes time for a claim.
lastly, be prepared for an inquisition once you call – provide as much information as possible beforehand so there are no surprises while speaking on the phone or in person with a representative about getting coverage after a car accident. in other words, do
how do i dispute a totaled car?
if you have comprehensive coverage, it should be automatic.
unfortunately there are some exceptions to this, so if your particular insurance policy doesn't cover totaled cars or if the car is more than 10 years old, then you may have to actively dispute the criteria of what makes a totaled car. the company will check for certain aspects that supposedly determine whether the cost of fixing the vehicle outweighs its monetary value. the dispute won't go through if they feel that repairing or replacing your current vehicle would be less expensive than repairing it. once again, without comprehensive coverage you are responsible for discussions with the company which owns the totaled vehicle.
what happens if you don't agree with a total loss adjuster?
well, you may not get paid for your loss.
if you don't agree with the total loss adjuster about an item's worth, which is required if it was damaged or lost due to fire or storm damage, then it can become a fight over who's right and who's wrong. this means that the only way your claim can be paid in full is if they approve all of your items and conditions with no question marks. otherwise, you'll most likely need to work out some sort of compromise. usually this will mean agreeing on partial amounts for sometimes even worthless items so long as the amount agrees with what both sides believe is fair for such items (you may want such agreement documented in writing). total loss is defined as
