Q: If insurance says a car is totaled but we already repaired it to be drivable, what are our options for payout?
The drivers insurance company was investigating and it was months before they took responsibility for the hit and run. The car wasn’t drivable and got towed from the street so we got it repaired since they had no info for us. We didn’t fix some minor details but made it drivable again for $4300. Insurance company is saying it’s a total loss and valued at $12,300. The back drivers side was hit but the car definitely doesn’t seem totaled. What are our options now for payment from the insurance company? They said they would look into reimbursing us for the repairs we made. Does it still have to be considered a total loss? I’d not, can we ask for additional costs to bring it back to pre-accident shape?
A:
If you were injured in the crash, contact a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Assn--they give free consults.
Here's how it would work in Pa. : take the total loss. Get the "salvage value" or buy back figure FOR THE CAR BEFORE YOU FIXED IT UP--in other words the value of the wreck as a wrecked vehicle. That may be significantly less than the money you have spent.
In some states, once you have it fixed if its' a total loss it must be reinspected. Some states also require that you turn in your title for what is called a "salvage title" or , in some cases a "junk title."
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