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Car Accident: What Do You Do If Your Vehicle is Destroyed?

By the time you’re in your 20s or 30s, you have probably been involved in at least one car accident. Thankfully, most of these accidents are minor and don’t leave you much worse off than you were before the crash. However, there are sometimes when the accidents are serious, and you walk away with very severe injuries. You may also find that your car is damaged to the point where you can’t drive it anymore. While this can be frustrating, you already know that things are going to get very expensive. You don’t feel that you should be required to pay for this yourself. this is why you should hire a Los Angeles injury lawyer.

Your accident lawyer in California will help you deal with the insurance company and ensure that you’re compensated for your losses. This includes the loss of your vehicle. It almost seems like a given that the insurance company would pay you the fair market value of your car after an accident. However, there are many times when your vehicle can be repaired for a lot less than what it would cost to replace it. This is something that your Los Angeles injury lawyer will negotiate with the defendant’s attorney. If your case isn’t settled, then this is something the judge would take into consideration when ordering damages.

Here, we will discuss how you determine that your car or SUV has been totaled. We’ll also explain what this means and how you will be compensated. In the meantime, if you have any questions about your own car accident case, reach out to us directly. One of our accident lawyers in California can sit down with you and go over your case. They can answer any questions you may have and may be able to give you an idea of what your case is worth.

Has the Insurance Company Determined that Your Car or SUV is Totaled?

You cannot determine whether your vehicle is destroyed or totaled. This is something that only the insurance company can do. Typically, what will happen is you’ll take your car to a local mechanic to have it looked at. The mechanic will then let the insurance company know what they think it will cost to fix your car. The defendant will be responsible for any money costs to repair your car or SUV.

If the mechanic does not believe your car can be fixed, they will communicate this much to the insurance company. If it is going to cost more to fix your car than it would be to replace it, the insurance carrier would deem the car totaled. Once this is completed, the insurance agent handling your case little document the fact that it is totaled and send you confirmation that your car is indeed totaled. The insurance carrier will then inform you what the fair market value for your vehicle is. This will be added to any other damages that your Los Angeles injury lawyer has already listed in your complaint.

You Are Only Entitled to the Fair Market Value of Your Vehicle

When you are trying to determine how much your car is worth, you may want to look to look it up on a site like Kelley Blue Book. KBB has been used for decades to determine the fair market value of any car, SUV, or other vehicle. If you believe the insurance company is offering you a much lower amount than what you’re entitled to, make sure you let your accident lawyer in California now. They will reach out to the other side and let them know that no settlement will be accepted unless includes the full, fair market value of your vehicle. You will usually also have a statement from the insurance company declaring the vehicle totaled indicating how much it is worth.

You Are Not Entitled to a Brand-New Replacement Vehicle

As discussed above, if your car is totaled, you will not be entitled to a brand-new replacement vehicle. You can’t even request that you be compensated in such a way that you can purchase a new model of the same car you drove in the accident. The most you can ask for in your complaint is the fair market value of your vehicle at the time of the crash.

Once your settlement check is received, and you have paid all the outstanding costs, fees, and other monies, you will receive the remaining settlement proceeds. You can then use this money to purchase whichever vehicle you would like.

Our Los Angeles Injury Lawyers Can Help You Determine What Damages You’re Entitled To

If you have recently been involved in a car accident, then you probably have a lot on your mind. Part of you is worried about how you will get back and forth to work now that your car is damaged. If you suffered serious injuries, you’re going to worry about the tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills you’ll receive. You are also trying to deal with the insurance company, which can be a nightmare all on its own. Thankfully, our Los Angeles injury lawyers can help you figure all of this out.

Our lawyers will let you know what your options are and explain how the process will work. Your accident lawyer in California can also give you an idea of what your case may be worth. If your vehicle was destroyed in the accident, the defendant will be required to pay damages for a replacement vehicle. As described above, this doesn’t mean you’re entitled to a brand-new vehicle. It simply means that the other party must compensate you for the fair market value of your vehicle at the time of the crash. Our Los Angeles injury lawyers will push to make sure you get as much money as possible.

What we recommend is that anyone who’s been involved in a motor vehicle accident contact our office as soon as possible after the crash. The things you do in the hours and days following your accident are critical. As far as your vehicle is concerned, you need to get it into the auto mechanic’s shop and ask for an estimate. If need be, your mechanic can ask the insurance company to declare your vehicle totaled. Our accident lawyers in California can do all this for you. You just need to call the office and schedule your free, initial consultation.

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