Car crashes are awful. Many times, you will have suffered an injury. However, even the most minor ding means you'll have to deal with the insurance company in order to get your vehicle repaired. If you've had a major accident, you may have not only suffered an injury, but your car might be totaled. When a car is totaled, it means you are suddenly without transportation and need to find a way to fix that situation.
Dealing With the Insurance Company
If you have been in an accident and your car has been damaged, you need to file a claim with your insurance company. Dealing with your insurance company in order to make a claim on a totaled car can be frustrating.
If your car is deemed a total loss, that means the cost of the repairs exceeds the value of the vehicle. A total loss claim would compensate you for the cost of replacing your car. While it would be ideal for the insurance company to pay for a brand-new car, the actuality is that they will pay for their estimation of what it costs to purchase a car of the same year as yours.
The important thing to understand is that even though it seems that the insurance company is making all the decisions, you can negotiate a total loss settlement that may be to your advantage. There are two things you can do to turn this situation in your favor.
- You can have your car independently appraised so that you can compare values.
- You can submit the appraisal to your insurance company and see if they will work with you. The insurance company has some leeway in determining the value of a totaled car, depending on the mileage and condition of the car before the accident.
How an Attorney Can Help
Depending on the value of your vehicle and how the insurance company works with you, you may want to discuss your options with an attorney. If you feel that your insurance company is not giving you an accurate settlement offer, you can have your attorney negotiate with them on your behalf.
Steffens Law Offices is a Nebraska personal injury law firm located in Broken Bow, Nebraska. William V. Steffens and Jeremiah J. Luebbe, personal injury attorneys with nearly 30 years of combined experience, are ready to help you resolve your claim. Please call us at 308-872-8327 to schedule a free consultation.