Negotiate a fair value for your loss.
Being in a car accident is bad enough, but dealing with your insurance company can be even worse. The job of the insurance adjuster is to settle your claim for as little money as possible, not to get you a fair value for your lost vehicle. If the insurance adjuster comes up with an initial offer that does not cover your costs or adequately compensate you for your loss, you can fight that offer and hold out for a better deal.
Instructions
1. Find pictures of your vehicle before the accident. Having photographs of your car can help you document the fact that the vehicle was in excellent condition before the crash. Submit copies of those pictures to the adjuster to substantiate your claim that the car is worth more than the adjuster is offering.
2. Get several repair estimates on your own, in addition to the estimates the insurance company required you to obtain. When you obtain the estimate, specify that the repair shop is to use original and not remanufactured parts. The insurance company may be trying to keep their costs don by using inferior parts.
3. Research the value of your vehicle using an authoritative source like the Kelley Blue Book. Review the values listed for your vehicle and find the one that matches the condition of your car or truck before the crash.
4. Submit all of your evidence in writing to the insurance adjuster. Make copies of all your documentation before you send it out.
5. Obtain replacement transportation if possible. Having a replacement vehicle already in place allows you to negotiate from a position of strength, boosting the odds that you will ultimately prevail and get a fair value for your totaled vehicle or sufficient money to repair and restore it to its former condition.
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