Hey all. My sisters car was parked, got hit and is totaled according to the shop. Other party obviously claimed responsibility. How should she approach getting the biggest settlement from the insurance company??? Thanks!

 

Their insurance company (the adjuster) will do some research on the value of the car. You then will be able to evaluate the value and see if you think is fair. If your sister had any receipts from any type of work done to the car that may add value (i.e. maintenance, tinted windows) be sure to let them know. Let the insurance company know that's her only way of transportation that she will need a car rental while she looks for another car. If she still has access to her car at the bodyshop, make sure she takes EVERYTHING, including any car accessories (yes, even floormats). Any reimbursement such as car rental, recent maintenance work, tint will be up to the agent whether they it can be reimbursed or not.

How do I know? I've helped many friends and family members go through this stuff as well as personal experience.

 

- Go through and find receipts for any major repairs / services in the last 6 months~

- Go on all autotrader / cars.com / ebay and find the most expensive examples of your car for sale, print them out / save them so you can show the insurance. You can also find average of these etc.

- Be sure make the point here that the high prices are what it would cost if you went to a dealer and replaced it.

- Be sure to mention money for tax / license, some policies will allow something like 1000-1500 for this.

 

In many cases the adjuster actually puts equivalent car ads from autotrader, etc as the "comparables" and basis the value of the car off of that. Start now and keep checking for the next couple of weeks as cars come and go on the market.

The adjusters value is a snapshot of the market value on the day they do the adjustment. That may not reflect the actual cost to replace. So over the longest period you can, keep up on the market for the exact replacement for the totalled car. Keep all the quotes and print them out if you have values higher than what the adjuster is offering.

 

I would go after a fair settlement, not the biggest one possible, but hey thats just me.

 

It is NOT up to the adjuster if you have receipts. I've been through it too and had a car totaled that I had just rebuilt the whole motor on 3 months prior. They added the whole value of the receipt to the value of the car because it was so recent. Likely, over 6 months or so many mile and they will begin to pro-rate the value.

If you have rental on your own insurance then the other company should provide a rental regardless of the other person's coverage. If for some reason they say no, call your own insurance. It is better to let the other company deal with it and not make a claim on your own insurance when the other party is at fault, but if their insurance makes it hard for you, you can make it hard for them.

Yes, take everything out of the car if you can, because if they total it, her stuff is gone.

+1. No reason to shake down the system, because we ALL pay for it when you do.

 

Damn remind me not to ever hire you to run a business.


Honestly though it's best to be fair with Insurance companies, because they totally reciprocate.

 

Not all of us are size queens like you.

 

Well, I guess I am not for your company. Then again, I do not think getting hit and going for a big settlements is a business, so I do think I will be applying. That's probably just me.

I bet you are the guy that sued red bull for not giving you wings or they lady that sued mcdonalds because you got burned by hot coffee.

I never said trust insurance companies or they have your best interest in mind, but you go ahead and read into it what ever you want, you are going to anyways.