Car totaled in accident

[Anonymous]

My fault. First time in an accident and having to deal with the insurance company. Anything I need to know or should do?

[Anonymous]

1. Count your blessing that you are not dead
2. Count your blessing that the other person's not dead
3. Let insurance handle.
4. Look for a new car

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Count your blessing that you are not dead
2. Count your blessing that the other person's not dead
3. Let insurance handle.
4. Look for a new car

This gave me chills, but yes all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Count your blessing that you are not dead
2. Count your blessing that the other person's not dead
3. Let insurance handle.
4. Look for a new car

This is OP. Thank you, this is great advice and believe me I am thankful. However, from DCUM, I was looking for more specifics about dealing with the insurance company. For example, is it possible to negotiate the value they say the car is worth, or is that generally fair (and not subject to negotiation). How does it work - they'll send a check to my lender and if there is a shortfall I have to pay that right away or ...? Something else? I mean, I don't even know the questions that I have, I just worry that the insurance companies might somehow take advantage of my ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Count your blessing that you are not dead
2. Count your blessing that the other person's not dead
3. Let insurance handle.
4. Look for a new car

This is OP. Thank you, this is great advice and believe me I am thankful. However, from DCUM, I was looking for more specifics about dealing with the insurance company. For example, is it possible to negotiate the value they say the car is worth, or is that generally fair (and not subject to negotiation). How does it work - they'll send a check to my lender and if there is a shortfall I have to pay that right away or ...? Something else? I mean, I don't even know the questions that I have, I just worry that the insurance companies might somehow take advantage of my ignorance.

From the bluebook, get an estimate of how much your car is worth - get a range. If they offer something lower than what you think is fair, then you can ask them to raise (use bluebook value) as your counter. They may give you little more.

[Anonymous]

It is totally worth your while to negotiate with the insurance company. I did it when I was living paycheck to paycheck and the insurance company didn't want to give me much for the car I needed to get to work.

The adjuster is just another gear in the machinery (like me) and wants to check all the boxes and get the claim settled. You can't change the year and model of your car but there may be room to move on its condition. I through in everything: recent repairs, upgraded features, new tires, spotless paint and pristine interior. By being a persistant pain, I was able to get the check increased from $4800 to $6000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is totally worth your while to negotiate with the insurance company. I did it when I was living paycheck to paycheck and the insurance company didn't want to give me much for the car I needed to get to work.

The adjuster is just another gear in the machinery (like me) and wants to check all the boxes and get the claim settled. You can't change the year and model of your car but there may be room to move on its condition. I through in everything: recent repairs, upgraded features, new tires, spotless paint and pristine interior. By being a persistant pain, I was able to get the check increased from $4800 to $6000.

Insurance Co. will raise your premium enough to recoup that soon or later though.

[Anonymous]

She my sons car was totaled last year (not his fault) we had to provide receipts for all upgrades and then the reimbursement was subject to depreciation. Anything not supported by a receipt was not considered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Count your blessing that you are not dead
2. Count your blessing that the other person's not dead
3. Let insurance handle.
4. Look for a new car

This gave me chills, but yes all of this.

Technically, nobody said #2 isnt true...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She my sons car was totaled last year (not his fault) we had to provide receipts for all upgrades and then the reimbursement was subject to depreciation. Anything not supported by a receipt was not considered.

NP. Depends on the insurance company. I had the same experience as the previous poster.

[Anonymous]

We recently had a car stoles that was eventually found bu totaled. It was used 2015 car that we only purchased a year prior. We were very surprised when the insurance offered essentially the same amount we had paid for the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is totally worth your while to negotiate with the insurance company. I did it when I was living paycheck to paycheck and the insurance company didn't want to give me much for the car I needed to get to work.

The adjuster is just another gear in the machinery (like me) and wants to check all the boxes and get the claim settled. You can't change the year and model of your car but there may be room to move on its condition. I through in everything: recent repairs, upgraded features, new tires, spotless paint and pristine interior. By being a persistant pain, I was able to get the check increased from $4800 to $6000.

Insurance Co. will raise your premium enough to recoup that soon or later though.

They’re going to raise it anyway, so you might as well get it preemptively.

[Anonymous]

Get the valuation report from the adjuster and check all features they think the car has. Also trim level. I know with Toyota you can call them and give them your VIN and they can tell you the trim level if you don't know it. I got them to email it to me for proof. You can then request more money for anything they missed.

If you had car seats, request reimbursement for purchasing new ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is totally worth your while to negotiate with the insurance company. I did it when I was living paycheck to paycheck and the insurance company didn't want to give me much for the car I needed to get to work.

The adjuster is just another gear in the machinery (like me) and wants to check all the boxes and get the claim settled. You can't change the year and model of your car but there may be room to move on its condition. I through in everything: recent repairs, upgraded features, new tires, spotless paint and pristine interior. By being a persistant pain, I was able to get the check increased from $4800 to $6000.

Insurance Co. will raise your premium enough to recoup that soon or later though.

They’re going to raise it anyway, so you might as well get it preemptively.

I am sure insurance companies are smarter than you with playing money games.

[Anonymous]

You might as well negotiate as you cannot trust insurance adjusters. I was recently in an accident where my 2018 car was totaled. I had new auto replacement coverage but had to read the policy provisions line by line with the adjuster on the phone to get them to follow their own policy. It was a $15k difference and they tried everything they could to get out of it.