A totaled vehicle can be devastating to those in the accident and the owners of the vehicle. If you’re involved in an accident, the first thing you need to do is seek medical attention for everyone involved. A car is often considered totaled when the damage that is sustained exceeds the value of the car. The laws that define when a vehicle is totaled vary from state to state. If your vehicle is badly damaged, your insurance will make an evaluation based on state regulations as to whether or not your vehicle is deemed totaled. There are various ways to total a car; cars can be involved in collisions, natural disasters, or maybe you’ve parked your car under an old tree and the limb decided to give away and crush your car. If you’ve been involved in an accident involving another person or another vehicle, be sure to contact an accident attorney, especially if your case involves alcohol, to discuss your options. Anything can happen, which is why you should be sure that you have sufficient insurance coverage to purchase another vehicle in case your vehicle gets totaled.
My Vehicle is Totaled, Now What Happens?
After your vehicle is totaled and you’ve checked that everyone involved in the accident is okay, contact your insurance agent to initiate a claim. Remember that looks can be deceiving when it comes to accidents. For instance, if you get into a crash and the computer of your vehicle was damaged, the cost to replace the computer may exceed the value of the car. Also, if you’ve crashed the vehicle and the airbags deploy, it doesn’t always mean that the damage is beyond repair. The insurance company works with its own mechanics and will want your vehicle sent to specific locations. From there, they will get the assessment of the damages and determine whether or not the vehicle is deemed totaled. If your policy contains a deductible, you will then have to pay the deductible in order to collect any money issued for the vehicle.
Types of Coverage
If you’re leasing or financing a vehicle, you will likely have comprehensive coverage and collision coverage. If you don’t have these types of policies and you are at fault in an accident, you might have to pay out of pocket to replace your vehicle. If you’re purchasing a new vehicle, you may want to get a loan or lease gap coverage. Loan or lease gap policies protect you from having to pay the full cost of the vehicle to the lien or loan holder. This type of insurance policy is more expensive and will only be worthwhile if you have a brand-new vehicle. If you’re in love with your vehicle and you do not want another type of vehicle, insurers like Allstate offer new car replacement coverage, which will cover the cost for you to get the same make and model of the car you currently own.
Obtaining a New Vehicle
Once you’ve collected your insurance money, it is time to purchase a new vehicle. If you’ve bought a new car replacement policy for your vehicle, you may want to check online before purchasing a new vehicle. If you’ve found your perfect new vehicle in a different state and you’re unable to go get it, you can use a service like Easy Car Shipping to transport your vehicle without any hassle. This way you don’t have to put unnecessary mileage on your new car while still getting it in little to no time!
If you’ve been in an accident, be sure to seek medical attention. Once you’ve tended to everyone in the vehicles involved, contact an accident attorney, or if you’re suffering from serious injury, contact a personal injury attorney. Then contact your insurance agent to get a better understanding of what is going on with your policies and deductible. Once you’ve got an idea of how much you can spend, open the internet browser and start searching for a new vehicle!
