My insurance wouldn’t “total” my car with $15k+ of damage.

[Anonymous]

This is a 2015 Tahoe, 112 m, 22-25k bbv.
Someone hit me uninsured and admitted fault in police report.
We got the preliminary estimate back, 15k damage and 3 months rental car (suburban).
I am also looking into putting in a finished value claim.
Damage includes framework and alignment.

At this point the insurance/collision shop wants to fix it and return it. What would you do in this case? I feel like it’s going to come back basically worthless bc it now has an accident on its VIN if we ever try to trade it in.

Would you fight for it to be totaled?

[Anonymous]

the rule is 75% of the worth of the car they total.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the rule is 75% of the worth of the car they total.

I have a feeling the actual bill will be much higher than the preliminary estimate and this is what I’ve heard tune and time again. They go a little low and the final result is a few thousand over.

[Anonymous]

How would you "fight" it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you "fight" it?

I’m not sure. Really push the diminished value claim? I feel like we are so screwed

[Anonymous]

You can also request for the change is sales price if you were to sell due to the car bring in an accident.

[Anonymous]

$15k damage + $3000 rental = 75% of BBV. And collision repairs always ends up more, not less (once they "open it up") Car is a total loss (as those insurance terms are used).

Irrelevant that the bad guy hit you pulling out of a strip mall and you don't want to drive your kids around in a Humpty Dumpty Tahoe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$15k damage + $3000 rental = 75% of BBV. And collision repairs always ends up more, not less (once they "open it up") Car is a total loss (as those insurance terms are used).

Irrelevant that the bad guy hit you pulling out of a strip mall and you don't want to drive your kids around in a Humpty Dumpty Tahoe.

Then why won’t the insurance agent claim it a loss? Is it because I’m dealing w my own insurance and they don’t have anyone to go after?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can also request for the change is sales price if you were to sell due to the car bring in an accident.

Yes I put this in. What is the diminished value percentile insurance companies use with a major accident?

[Anonymous]

Np. Car insurance is such a racket. I think we need to rise up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you "fight" it?

sue the other driver. If you're an attorney with litigation experience you can do it pro se. For anyone else, it make no sense because the attorneys fees will outstrip the damages

[Anonymous]

Try getting another estimate that comes in higher. Your insurance company is following a formula, the people you’re talking to probably don’t have discretion here.

[Anonymous]

No body cares about an accident on a car with over 100k miles. If anything worth more as new parts. Stop whining

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you "fight" it?

sue the other driver. If you're an attorney with litigation experience you can do it pro se. For anyone else, it make no sense because the attorneys fees will outstrip the damages

Someone without insurance is likely judgment proof. Waste of time for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you "fight" it?

sue the other driver. If you're an attorney with litigation experience you can do it pro se. For anyone else, it make no sense because the attorneys fees will outstrip the damages

if they didn't have car insurance I'm guessing they don't have a lot of assets to help OP recoup costs.