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When you are in an accident, your insurance agent will assess the damage done to your car to decide whether the car is totaled or not. If your car is not totaled, you will need to go through with the normal repair schedule, sending your car into the body shop. If your car is totaled, essentially your car has been damaged beyond it's worth and is no longer worth repairing.
What Will Happen
If your car is totaled, your insurance company will issue you a check that you can take to the bank. Your insurance company will determine the value of your vehicle before the crash and send you the check for this amount. You can use this check for any use, but you will still need to pay any loans that are out on the vehicle. The insurance company will usually write the check out to either you personally or your vehicle’s loan lender.
How Is Your Vehicle Valued?
When an insurance company determines the cash value of your car, it takes a variety of factors into account. Your insurance company will take your vehicle’s age, condition, mileage, and resale value into account while determining your vehicle’s value. The insurer will then decide what the cash value of your car is based on the factors and provide a cash payout for the vehicle.
Is Your Car Totaled If the Airbags Deploy?
If your car’s airbags deploy, your car is not always totaled. The airbags can deploy in your car and be reloaded for later use. This process may be expensive but will save your car from needing to be trashed after a car accident. A local body shop can repair damaged airbag systems, but it will be pricey. Your insurer will assess the total damage done to your car and decide whether it is worth the extra costs to repair your vehicle. You will need to sit down with your insurer to discuss whether the cost of repairing the airbags in your vehicle will cause your vehicle to be unrepairable.
What If You Think Your Car Is Worth More?
If you believe that your car is worth more than the insurance company decides, you will need to find documentation that supports your thought. You will need to let your insurer know immediately, as they will begin scrapping your car to make up for lost cash. If you do believe your car is worth more, you should collect all of your supporting documentation and take it up to your insurer to dispute the claim. You can also have a dealership due a separate evaluation of the vehicle to decide the best value of the car. If your evidence is strong enough you may stand a chance at negotiating the payout for the vehicle. If you decide you want to repair the vehicle on your own, you will also need to take that up with your insurer as soon as possible to avoid the chance of your insurer scrapping the vehicle.
Summary
If you are in a car accident and your vehicle is totaled, you will need to have your car assessed by your insurer. When you are moving through the process you will want to make sure that you are well prepared and ready to move forward with the process. If your car is totaled, you should make sure to take the necessary steps to ensure that you are being fairly compensated for your vehicle, so that you are not left shorthanded. While your car may be lost, you can still be fairly compensated for your damages, so you should take the time to make sure your check fairly represents the damage done to your vehicle.
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