by moss_sylvia » Wed May 05, 2010 06:01 pm
I have a 2002 Century Buick Custom. A deer ran into the side of my car and dented the fender pretty good. My husband's head flew into the windshield shattering it. My car has other cosmetic problems and I am afraid that the insurance company will total my car out. I was just going to have them do a cash settlement with the lien holder. Do you think they will total my car???
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 02:50 pm Post Subject:
Thank you again. Yes I did learn my lesson about overpaying for cars. At the time I had no transportation and a baby and no credit so I had to go through a bad credit dealership since I could not get a loan so of course I probably have paid for the car about 5 times already. Yes, I plan to put the money toward my loan. Did I add that the dealership sold me this car with a clogged converter. So yes I have learned a lesson and I will never go through them again.
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 04:00 pm Post Subject:
"There's nothing that prevents an insurer from paying for new damage and not paying for preexisting damage. Happens all the time."
Max, I think we're on the same page...but keep in mind a betterment or prior damage is still on the appraisal and accounted for. obviously you cant fix new damage if there is old damage on the same panel, so you have to account for both repairs.... by spot repairs, i mean if the loss damaged the bumper, grill, hood, fender, and windshield and all the insrd was concerned about was the fender and windshield, the adjuster has to write a complete estimate, thus he cant "spot repair". not with the companies I have written for anyway, could be state or company specific.
"Aside from the need to replace the windshield (a $200 event at most), I can't conceive of a fender repair by itself as being sufficient to constitute damages warranting a total loss. You could go to an auto salvage yard and probably get a replacement fender for $100, and overpay $500 for labor and paint to install it. "
I agree, thats why going to a bodyshop first to find out if that would work, gotta go there anyway. if that is all that is damaged (fender and glass), but an impact that was severe enough to cause the driver to slam into the winshield i would think there would be more damage, ie bumper, grill, and hood. no? did he just slam on brakes that hard?
"Of course! Let the adjuster come and tell you what the damage is worth to the insurance company. You don't have to accept the offer, especially if it did mean a "total loss". You can choose to drop the claim and repair the damages yourself. Even if the adjuster is willing to write you a check on the spot for $1500 minus your $500 deductible, $1,000 net, you can take the money and use it for a vacation and not repair the damage to the vehicle."
true you dont have to accept it, but the insurance company will still report the loss to the DMV if totaled; even if he doesnt accept it. I dont agree with it, but ive seen this done many times. companies have been burnt by totaled cars coming back to haunt them when they had the opportunity to total it. (lawsuits) Since this requirement could be company or state specific, talk to your adjuster prior to them coming out, ask what is their proceedure should the car be deemed a total, can you negotiate to settle it the way you want? I wish all companies were that easy to deal with...Max, does your companies allow this in CA?
"I should have added, if the vehicle is only worth $2000-$3000, you should not be paying for collision coverage. As you see, at this point it's a money losing proposition. Use the money instead to pay off your loan."
In most cases I whole heartedly agree, but in this loss, it would file under comprehensive coverage / other than collision, "comp or OTC" coverage is typically super cheap for those with good driving history. (even w/ $250 ded) covers theft, fire, vandalism, animals, storm damage, etc. Since Collision covers a broader range of exposures and does cost much more, as Max stated, on an older car, Collision coverage not usually the thing to do...however, most banks require it if there is a lien to protect them.
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 05:00 pm Post Subject:
Max, I think we're on the same page . . . but in this loss, it would file under comprehensive coverage / other than collision, "comp or OTC" coverage is typically super cheap for those with good driving history.
True on both accounts.
As for requiring a salvage report if the adjuster is aware of the damage, I'm not entirely certain. If there is no claim being pursued, I'm not sure what, if any, responsibility the insurer has. Not something I've ever come up against.
Obviously, they would keep the file on the damages the adjuster observed/photographed. And any attempt to claim the damage later as the result of another incident would be fraud (same company or different company).
The only thing a salvage title does, as far as I know, is prevent the vehicle from being insured for collision in the future. Comprehensive/OTC is a different matter. Some insurers I am aware of require all used vehicles being newly insured, or vehicles over a certain age being newly insured, to be physically inspected as part of underwriting to make note of existing damage, missing parts, etc.
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 07:33 pm Post Subject: Car is considered totaled
My daughter was in a minor accident, she hit a parked car, the car was still drivable, but had some cosmetic damage, I took it to a body shop refereed to me by AAA, they said 4,700 worth of damage and the insurance adjuster says its a loss, I have a friend in the bodshop business and he said that was way too much, so now I'm out of a car and will probably not get much for it, it was a good car. What are my options? I disagree with the estimate.
Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 03:37 am Post Subject:
so now I'm out of a car and will probably not get much for it, it was a good car
Have you settled the claim already? If not, you can dispute it or you can allow the company to declare the vehicle a total loss and inform them that you wish to retain possession of the vehicle. They will deduct the "salvage value" from the "actual cash value", and you will receive a check for the difference.
If that's enough money to repair the vehicle, great. If not, you'd have to come up with the balance out of your own pocket. The insurance company is required to report the salvage to the DMV which will reissue your title to the vehicle as a "salvage".
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