Losses and recoveries when your car has been damaged

The Measure of Your Loss

If your car is a total loss, you may be disappointed at the amount that the wrongdoer's insurance company is claiming that your car was worth. In this situation, you need to know what the used car value of your car is. You can go to the internet site for NADA and this will give you a very solid start as to the value of your car just before the accident. If you recently purchased new tires or a special component for your car, show the insurance adjuster the receipt for this improvement to your car. This may lead to a higher valuation of your vehicle.

What do you do if you are totally dissatisfied with the offer from the wrongdoer' insurance company? If you have exhausted negotiating with the insurance company, you should contact your own auto insurance company. If you have collision coverage, you may be better off having your own company cover the loss and you pay the deductible. Your insurance company will later file the paperwork to get the wrongdoer's insurance company to repay them for what your insurance company spent to fix your car. Usually, your insurance company will recover your deductible for you at this time, too. However, this exchange may not occur for many months after the collision.

Rental car