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Value of Your Vehicle After an Accident

by | Aug 10, 2015 | Auto Insurance

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Page Tags: 2015 | accident

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What Does Auto Insurance Pay For?

There you are, minding your own business, obeying the laws of traffic when CRUNCH! Someone has crashed into your vehicle. What should have been a lovely drive home from work has just turned into a massive inconvenience.

Hopefully the accident is just a little fender bender; your car will be in the shop for a day or two, and then life as you know it will return to normal. But what if that’s not the case? What if the damage to your vehicle, or even to you or your passengers, is more extensive than that?

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Who Pays For Repairs?

If you’re hit in an accident, the at-fault party’s auto insurance company is responsible for getting your vehicle back to pre-accident condition by making any necessary repairs. It’s the job of the at-fault party’s insurer to indemnify you, or to make you whole again.

Basically, you have a right to be compensated by their auto insurance company for any loss that was incurred, up to the insured’s policy limits. Obviously, that means that your vehicle will either be returned to pre-accident condition, or you’ll be given a check in the amount of its market value.

 

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However, even if your vehicle is restored to its pre-accident condition, it may not be restored to its pre-accident value. In other words, if you were to sell your vehicle, you may receive less money for it simply because it now has an accident in its history, especially if that was its first and only accident. This is called “diminished value.”

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Diminished Value of a Car…AFTER an Auto Accident

Where Does Compensation Come From?

If you are in an accident and the other person is responsible for the collision, you may be able to collect compensation for diminished value from their insurance company as part of the claims process. Note that because diminished value is almost impossible to prove, however, it may be a challenge to actually receive any compensation.

It’s also important to note that in most states, including Nevada, you cannot collect diminished value from your own insurance company. In fact, your insurance policy may specifically state that you are not entitled to compensation for diminished value. So, even if it could theoretically be proven that your car is indeed worth less than it was prior to the accident, you would not be entitled to a payout from your insurer.

 

My Vehicle Is a Total Loss; How Much Money Will I Get?

Getting into a car accident is a huge interruption to your life, but finding out that your car will no longer be drivable? That’s worst-case scenario. Sadly, many people who find themselves in that unfortunate situation feel doubly blindsided when they hear the settlement amount for their totaled vehicle.

You had a working vehicle prior to the accident, and you’ve read that the insurance company is supposed to get it back to pre-accident condition. Why then, isn’t your “total loss” settlement enough to purchase a comparable vehicle?

 
Your Auto Insurance and the “Hit and Run”

Your Auto Insurance and the “Hit and Run”

If your car was hit by someone and they do the legal/right thing by admitting it and paying for it, all is well. The “at fault” driver’s insurance will cover it under their property damage portion of their insurance for your car to be fixed. In the case that someone hits your beautiful new car while you are in the store and drives away, what do you do?

Your Auto Insurance and the “Hit and Run”

At Fault – If You Caused an Auto Accident

The responsibility of who pays what in Nevada is contingent on who’s at-fault in an auto accident. All drivers in Nevada have an obligation to drive their automobiles safely to reduce any risks of potential accidents. In Nevada, if you are the at-fault driver (the person that caused the accident), then you are responsible to “make whole” the individual or property you hit.

Your Auto Insurance and the “Hit and Run”

I Witnessed A Car Accident; What Do I Do?

A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye and witnessing one can be scary. After an auto accident, all drivers involved are required to stay at the scene where information is exchanged for auto insurance purposes. But what should you do if you witness a car wreck?

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That’s Not What My Car Is Worth!

Will the settlement be enough to buy the same car? Car collisions are inconvenient in and of themselves, but finding out that your vehicle is a total loss may feel like an even bigger headache. So how much money can you expect to get when your vehicle is totaled?

 

What Affects The Value Of Your Vehicle In A Total Loss?

First of all, it’s important to remember that your settlement check reflects the actual value of your vehicle, not the replacement value. Note that this is not the same amount as what a car dealership, whose mission is to make a profit, would sell your vehicle for off their lot. For that reason, your settlement amount may or may not be enough to replace your car with one that is the same make and model.

 

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What is Actual Cash Value?

Actual cash value has more to do with what your property is actually worth in today’s market. In other words, if you were selling the same car, what would a buyer be willing to pay for it? Sentimental value does not apply. Its fair market value would be less than what you paid for it at the time of purchase. It “depreciates”.

In most cases, if your vehicle is totaled in an accident, meaning that the cost of repair is greater than what the vehicle is worth, the settlement that you receive from the insurance company will reflect the car’s actual cash value, minus your insurance deductible.

There are numerous factors that affect the value of your vehicle. The year, make, and model are all important, but so are its condition ratings, mileage, options, and trim level. If your tires are old and the undercarriage is rusty, that will bring down the value of your vehicle. If, on the other hand, your car is in pristine condition and has had routine maintenance performed on it, you can expect a higher settlement.

So is the insurance company trying to rip you off? Definitely not, in fact, thanks to fair claims settlement practices, it would be illegal for them to do so. Insurance providers follow Nevada’s state guidelines through the entire process and use an independent third-party source to evaluate your car’s features and compare them to similar cars in your area. That information is used to come up with a fair settlement amount that accurately reflects your vehicle’s market value.

 

I Was Injured in the Accident. What Am I Owed?

If there were injuries, any hospital costs or therapy bills incurred by you or your passengers would be covered up to the at-fault drivers policy limits, as well as lost wages and damage to personal property. If you will be without your vehicle, you are also entitled to a rental car.

 

Nevada Insurance Enrollment Can Help

Finding out that your vehicle is a total loss may be disappointing, but the process doesn’t have to be confusing. Wondering what you should expect from an insurance company in the event of an accident? Your Nevada Insurance Enrollment auto insurance agent can help you navigate the entire claims process and understand why you’re receiving your settlement amount and ensure that you are fairly compensated for damages and repairs.

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