It was the found to be other guy's fault...and my car may be totalled....what are my options?

Question

My car was only worth around $2500 when i got into an accident. The accident was found to be his fault, and the cost of repairing my car will be just over the value of my car. How does this work now? Will his insurance company send a check for me to do what I like with towards another car? or does it have to be used towards the repairs of my "totalled" vehicle?

Im new to this whole "crashing" thing....thanks

Answer 1

If your car is totaled they won't pay for it to be repaired. They will make you an offer of the actual cash value, and if you accept it you sign the title over to them basically and the car becomes the insurance company's. Then they sell it to a salvage yard. You then get another car with the check you get. If you want to keep it and get it fixed, you will not get as much $ to settle as you will only get salvage value, not actual cash value.

Answer 2

First off, by who's estimation is the vehicle valued at $2500? If that is your estimate the insurance company goes by blue book less mileage, wear and tear, and condition. You get what they give you based on their appraisal and that's it! You can argue until you're blue in the face that's all they'll give you on a totalled vehicle. You can buy it back from them for salvage value and keep the car and take a check for the balance.
Yes, the driver found at faults carrier will send you the check but you have to sign off and that's the end!!!PERIOD!!!
Another aspect is you say the other driver is at fault. The insurance companies investigate and determine fault and their word is final! The other driver might be 60% at fault and you might be held 40%at fault if the circumstances present. That can sometimes affect the pay out also. So many people don't understand the law requires you to be "in control" of your vehicle at ALL times! It can come back to haunt you when you think you were 100% in the right!

Answer 3

If his insurance company has determined that your vehicle is a total loss they will 'buy' your car for ACV (actual cash value). This is what the car would have sold for prior to the loss. Most insurance companies use NADA and Kelly as a GUIDE to determine value based on model, options, condition and mileage. Do some homework...check all the sale papers you can find for cars as much like yours as possible. There is nothing for the insurance company to gain by not offering you ACV but be prepared to counter with facts if you feel they are low. Some more two-bit advice: don't attempt to buy back your vehicle after it is totaled. The insurance co. is going to give you a check to do as you wish...buy another car, gamble, drinking binge, whatever. Trying to retain the salvage car is a logistics nightmare and you will regret it. Stay civil and calm when dealing with the adjuster. There are thousands of dumb@ssed claims people out there and you may very well be assigned one. If you truly feel you have hit a wall with him/her request their manager. Never threaten to get a lawyer unless you mean it -- this does not scare them one tiny bit (it is laughable the number of people that think the threat of lawyers make an adjuster pee themselves). They have dozens of lawyers and will send your file to one in the blink of an eye.

Answer 4

The other person's insurance company will call you, tell you the car is not worth fixing and beind valued at 2,500 I'm sure they won't fix it so they will tell you it won't be fixed and than will send you a check for what it's worth which will be less than what you feel it's worth. Go to kellybluebook.com and type in your car make, model , mileage and whatever they will ask you for and than you will see how much your car is actually worth and do this before insurance campany calls you that way you'll have a better idea and when they offer you less than the book value, you can tell them what your car is worth. They want to give as least as possible so if you know up front you can tell them it's not enough and the book vaule is such and such and you want more, if not they will give you as least as possible. After you reach a price they will either send or have you go down to their office and cut you a check and you can whatever you'd like with the money.
If you are going to buy another car either new or used and find the one you like ,go to kelly book again and type in the same info as you did on yours and than they will tell you how mauch the car you want to purchase is worth, because again the dealers will want top dollar from you, so all the info you can gather before you talk to saleperson the better off you are. Don;t say anything to salesperson about you going home to look car up as they don't want you to know anything, the less you know the better they like it. Do your home work first, remember they are all nice when you go in because it's their job to get you to relax and than get top dollar out of you.

Answer 5

When they send you the check for the worth of your vehicle, it isn't yours anymore, the insurance company just bought it. They will send out a wrecker to move it to a recycling facility to try to recoup some of their losses. You can do whatever you please with the money. Buy another car, or take a cruise. It's yours.

Answer 6

his insurance will ask you for several estimates,and even sometimes,do their own..they should cut you a check.If the repairs are more then what the car is worth,i'd go shoppin around for another car....and enjoy what's left....... :) good luck

Answer 7

they,ll probably total your vehicle out ,give you a check and hope fully you,ll get enough to replace the var you had,,you might get enough to get a better one with but it will be settled out pretty soon,they don't like too drag things like this on for ever,so sit back and be calm,you,ll get enough to replace your car..good luck i hope this help,s

Answer 8

get a bottle of aspirin because your gunna find how good your insurance company is