When Your Insurance Company Totals Your Car

INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALS YOUR CAR.

Insurance company totals your car… More and more people are having the same experience… They are involved in a collision that is not their fault. Yet, rather than fixing your car, your insurance company totals your car. The insurance company pays what it claims is the fair market value of the car and then tows it away.

However, many people like the car they have and do not want to take a chance with another one. Other people feel that they are not being offered a fair price by the insurer. Do these people have any rights?

YOUR INSURANCE POLICY IS A CONTRACT

When you buy insurance, you sign a contract with the insurer. These contracts always provide that the insurer does not have to pay to repair a car when the repairs will cost more than the car is worth. Therefore, the insurer does have the right to “total” your car in such a case. Depending on the age and the condition of the car, even a relatively small amount of damage may result in the car’s being totaled.

DISAGREE ABOUT YOUR CAR’S VALUE? HAVE THE CAR APPRAISED

However, if you really want to keep your car and have it repaired, most insurers will allow you to do so. If you do, the insurer has the right to deduct the salvage value of the car from what you are paid. Also, you do have the right to be paid for the actual value of your car. Which essentially means the insurer should pay you what your car is actually worth. If you and the insurer disagree about its value, it may be worthwhile to have the car appraised. Present that appraisal to the insurer and use it to try to convince them to pay more.

If all else fails, you can hire a lawyer to represent you. Although you will have to decide whether the difference in values is enough to make it worth your while.

If you’d like to find out more about your rights in an auto accident and especially if you have been injured, don’t hesitate to contact our office for a free legal consultation.