Repair, Yes, Claim -- Maybe?: That's The Question For Anyone Facing A "Totaled" Car
One of the issues that car owners face when their cars get older is the decline in value. Not only does this affect the resale amount the owner could get by selling the car, but it also affects insurance claims and repairs after an accident. The lower the value of the car, the more likely an insurance claim is to mark the car as totaled, or not worth the cost of the repair needed after an accident, even if the repairs cost relatively little.
There are procedures a car owner can follow to get the car deemed roadworthy again, but they can be a pain. In the case of smaller collisions, then, it may not be worth it to file a claim depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. However, it is definitely worth it to do what you can to get the car fixed.
Notify the Insurance Company No Matter What
First, it's vital that you notify your own insurance agent of the accident. This is not the same as filing a claim. If the accident was your fault, you definitely need to let the agent know, but even if it was not your fault, notifying your agent only benefits you.
By telling your insurance agent what happened, you establish a record of the approximate date of the accident and damage, as well as your side of the story. That way, if the other person decides to try to blame you for the accident, you have this record of contact showing when the accident happened and how.
And if it takes you a while to fix the damage on your car, you run the risk of a scammer trying to blame you for damage on the scammer's car. The fraud involves the claim that your car was damaged when you somehow hit the scammer's car. But if you've talked to your insurance agent about the damage, you have a record that the damage occurred well before the scammer's attempts to co-opt it.
Note that if someone else hit your car, that person's insurance company can deem your car totaled, too. If you are not in a position to buy a new car, "totaled" is not a word you want to hear. Remember, if your current car is old, the insurance company will not pay for a new one -- it will only pay you what your car is currently worth, which can be well below even the down payment for a new car.
Discuss Repair Options With the Shop
If you're trying to repair your car under a budget and are not filing a claim for insurance reimbursement because you don't want your car marked as totaled, you need to start talking to repair shops to determine what needs to be fixed now, and what you can wait on and do later. Find out if there is a way to repair the dent without redoing the paint, if needed, or see if the shop can set up a payment plan.
Keep all repair records stemming from the accident, and try to work with the same shop when possible to avoid confusion. Always get written estimates before each separate job. Contact a company like Chehalis Collision Center for more information and assistance.
