Steph3188

Was in an accident last night and really wondering if insurance will decide to total or fix. Car has about 45,000 miles. Drivers side airbags did deploy.

salimshah

I hope every body walked away from the wreck.

At this time, try to establish the market value of your car before the accident.

Talk to your insurance guy about where to move your vehicle, because if the city impounded the vehicle, it may be costing more than $200 per day on top of the towing and pretty soon it can be 2x the amount.

Salim

Steph3188

I did walk away from it. Thanks for asking. I had the car towed. Insurance wants to have it towed to have it assessed to see if it is totaled or fixable this week.

Airbalance

salimshah

Everything is fixable. The issue is, if the cost of repair exceeds the market value, then it is a write off. As an owner, you prefer it to be written off even if the cost of repair comes slightly less than the market value.
Let's say if the cost of repair is $650 less than the market value. Your vehicle after the accident has now a diminished value. You may in this case prefer that it totaled at full value instead of being repaired.

Also talk to your insurance person, as the rental and other things are handled differently once the vehicle is deemed total loss.

And dont forget to collect all your valuables and personal information from the RX (or momentous) . I would also clear the garage codes ... hold the two outside buttons together till the light blink rapidly.

Salim

703

An impact like will shorten the life span of other components in the car. Not worth keeping.

RX in NC

If you were not at fault and the decision is made to repair and keep the vehicle, be sure to pursue a Diminished Value claim against the at-fault driver's insurance company (if your state indeed allows it). I did this after I was hit in August 2009 in my daily driver, and again after my wife was hit in May 2014 in her daily driver.

In my case, the insurance company offered me a measly settlement which I laughingly refused. I opted to take them to court, did my homework (including obtaining a Diminished Value Appraisal after my car was repaired), served as my own attorney, and won my case (a $5,000 settlement) in about 45 minutes of actual courtroom time.

In my wife's case, the insurance company offered a measly settlement which I laughingly refused. I again did my homework (including obtaining another Diminished Value Appraisal after her car was repaired) and again prepared to take them to court by serving as my wife's attorney. When they learned that I had won my previous Diminished Value case in court, they immediately countered with a reasonable offer that I accepted without having to go to court (a $4,500 settlement).

In both cases I set these funds aside in a money market account to serve as our rolling Vehicle Maintenance Fund for all of our vehicles. Since I DIY the majority of our maintenance and repairs, this money should last me for many years to come. And no, I am not a licensed attorney but with my project management background I knew I could handle both of these cases because the facts were clearly on my side. It was simply up to me to logically present them that way.

TriniLex

How does the engine bay look?

raylor4

By the looks of the center front being caved in, it looks like the car hit a pole. Was this a one-car accident? Just curious.
Ray A.

Audiqv8

If the airbags and air curtains deployed, then most likely insurance company will total the car. Seat belts also lock up and will have to be replaced or rebuild.

LexusHoo