Is my car totaled? What next?

Question

I hydroplaned last night and hit the railing and another car. The front is completely messed up and i have dent on the rear. I drove a RSX Type S. 1/4th of my front left RIM was sliced. I think my radiator and engine is messed up...the front air bag deployed. Is my car totaled? If so how do i proceed if not what do i do? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
How long will the insurance take to settle claims?
Anyone has experience dealing with Pemco?
Will this affect my future insurance policy rates?
Thank God and those seat belts...i walked without a single scratch. So did people from the other car. Acura's are awesome cars...I loved mine!

It's an Acura RSX Type S
2002 Model
Has 60,000 miles on it
It's well maintained and in a good condition

Answer 1

Okay, step one is to determine your coverage, which you can get from reading your policy or asking your agent. Since you hydroplaned, and no one hit you, if you don't have full coverage including collision you probably aren't covered. If the policy just lists comprehensive, you are covered for any damage you have done to anyone else, so the car you hit will be covered, and the guard rail will be fixed if needed, but your damages to your car won't be covered. If you have collision it will be, less your deductible if any of course.

As to whether or not your car is totaled, that is a hard call to make. When the repairs reach the point where they are more than the worth of the vehicle, it's totaled. That depends of course on the year of the car and mileage. You can't just say "Well, the air bag went off, so it's totaled", there are other factors to consider.

Will it affect your future insurance rates? You bet it will since the insurance will pay for the damage caused by you. You didn't say if you got a ticket or not, but you didn't keep your vehicle under your control and could have received a ticket for that. Yes, I know you hydroplaned, but obviously the road was wet and you were driving too fast for conditions or it wouldn't have happened. (Not bashing you, just telling you the thought patterns of the insurance company).

Just remember, no matter what, you are okay, and the car is just property.

Answer 2

The insurance company is your lawyer unless you have some other real loss that you want to sue to recover. Insurance will pay for your car if anything is still owed on it and minus the deductable, you get the residue. Uninsured coverage hopefully can recover your deductable from the person at fault. If you want this explained, talk to your insurance agent. You will sign a release, they'll tow away the wreck and leave you with a settlement check. If you had any new items added to the car- even a recent new set of tires be sure to mention that to the claims adjuster to add value to the settlement. Maybe you can look for $8,000- $9,000 minus your deductable. Ask the insurance if they provide compensation for the loss of the use of your car while they're settling.

Answer 3

If you have collision coverage simply contact the claims dept and file a claim. Your company will write a repair estimate and determine if cost to repair is above or below the value of the car (or as in most states, a percentage of the value). If repair costs are below the T/L threshold your car will be repaired, if above it will be declared a 'total loss' and the insurance company will pay the actual cash value (ACV) of your car prior to the loss with deductions and/or additions for mileage, condition and options. Larger insurance companies will inspect and offer a settlement within days of the accident. Smaller companies with limited staff and resources usually take a little longer.

Answer 4

I smashed up my mustang, front end also.The body shop cut off the old front end and welded on a new one. Hopefully the motor hasn't shifted and all they have to do is replace the front clip. I don't know where you live but if your in the U.S go to partstrain .com. Ford wanted $1000 for a rad and fan. I got them from there with delivery to Canada for $425 canadian.Regarding your insurance it will go up when you renew your policy. I work with a guy that has the same car as you but he blew the motor showing off and missed forth gear,hit second and she red lined poof! Call a body shop and get a quote.

Answer 5

You haven't said you have called the ins co yet, so I would recommend that first.

I had customers who normally had to mess around 2 to 4 weeks with any ins. co.

It sounds totalled to me. In which case, you will wait for the ins co to send you a letter saying that the car is a total loss. They will ask you what you want to do: turn it in to them, or keep it and use your settlement $$ to pay for repairs.

If you want to give it to them, you will sign your title over to them.

If you want to keep it, you will need to take the total loss letter from the ins co, and your title to the dmv, and request a salvage title. You can sell the car like this to someone else.

If you don't sell the car, you can't drive it until you get it fixed. After the car is repaired and able to be put back on the road, you will need to go back to the dmv and get a rebuilt salvage title for the fixed car. Once you get this rebuilt salv title, you can drive it, and you can sell it to someone else too.

It will always be branded a rebuilt salvage throughout the life of the vehicle.

Answer 6

Call your insurance company.

Nobody here can tell you if your car is totaled without SEEING it.

Answer 7

Well, you didn't tell us what year, the mileage, etc. so we can't tell you. Report it to your insurance and you'll find out.