Accident! What Will Insurance Give Me?

im sure it will be a total loss, very bad front end damage. Just wondering what the going rate market value is for my truck. Just seeing what others were getting in a similar insurance claim situation...

2003 dcsb 110k mi clean title 4wd base

edit sf bay area
edit state farm insurance

 

No one here on TW can give you a more solid answer than your actual insurance company.

 

^ this

Best thing you can do is do some research on similar vehicles in your area for sale, compare that to what your insurance company offers you and hold out for more if it's below what you expect.

These kinds of $$$ totals vary wildly depending on a number of factors, particularly the area you're in. Just like insurance quotes

 

Bout tree fiddy

 

ask yourself if you saw your truck on car lot how much would you buy it for? then divide that number by four

 

Pictures of the damage?

 

Sorry about the accident.
Serious question...
Is the console at the 4wd shifter in good shape?
If there's any way you can remove it I'll buy it.

EDIT:
Just realized you're in the bay. So if you can I'd come grab it.

Thanks

 

Only your adjuster will know for sure. And usually less than you think you should get.

If you have pre accident photos and detailed maintenance records that might help prove it was 'above average'.

And if you can get 8-9 listings, in your geographic region, of a very similar truck, that may make a case for it being over book value.

KBB and Edmunds are the place to look for numbers you may be hearing from the adjuster. You won't get squat for any mods unless they are called out on the policy.

You might look up the word indemnification and drop it in the post offer negotiation conversation early on.

Best of luck.

 

As others said, your insurance company knows what they'll give you.

But also figure out if they are going to give you the "value" of the truck or the "replacement cost" of the truck. Those can be two very distinct numbers.

One is a fairly arbitrary number based on nothing more than some depreciation algorithm they use, and almost always undervalues your vehicle, the other is one that requires them to know a little bit about what a comparable vehicle would actually cost to be replaced. This *should* take into consideration things like limited supply, demand, etc...

That said, don't take whatever value they give you. Fight it whatever it is. As I learned when our house was broken into several years ago, everything (mostly) is negotiable. Some you'll win, some you'll loose. One of the things they stole was my wife's violin. Now, it wasn't a strat or anything, but it was a concert quality piece. Insurance company said it was worth $80 because of "depreciation". We called BS on that, and even has receipts and a letter from the music store saying if anything, the value would have *increased* over time. They didn't budge on that, but then oddly enough gave us like $20 a piece for our CD/DVD collection that we *estimated* we had around 150 disks. Most of them we got used for like $5 a pop... So, we still came out on top, lol...

 

do your homework now as to pricing. I had an older Ford 4WD stolen in 1999. She was restored and in pristine condition. The insurance company said $1500. I provided receipts for all the parts within the last year and did a nation wide, then region wide, then a zip code wide search and had lots of examples of similar vehicles. There is a statutory time frame that they have to make you a settlement by and is is usually very low... that is the business they are in. If this is your only vehicle then they have the advantage as you will need their money to get some wheels... 99% of the time. If they don't "play fair" then they are breaching the law... it is called dealing in bad faith. You will have to demonstrate to them that you are willing to go to court to obtain a decent settlement and you have the documentation of value. Never hand them their your proof as they will "loose" it. If it does come down to a face to face meeting ask the insurance rep if they are capable of making a settlement offer, if not, you are talking to the wrong person. btw, the deductible is taken out of the offer. I ended up getting $9500 minus a $500 delectable for my old truck. They weren't happy... they settleld when I showed them the estimate of value that I had done 6 months prior by the shop that they sent me to for an evaluation due to the uniqueness of the truck so that they could give me a premium based on that evaluation.

 

so u saying 3600 hmm doubt that low but what the hell do i know

 

I’m on a ship in southern Louisiana and waiting out Hurricane Laura, I called my insurance company and to ensure I was covered, I asked about all my after market parts. My insurance agent told me if I had receipts for them then it would get tacked on to the value of the truck.

 

Call one of the TV lawyers. They can get you millions for the emotional distress you are suffering.

 

Value depends on what insurance carrier you have. You pay more for insurance to have a better company, you tend to get more. Last year, AAA offered 15k for my buddy 03 DC. This spring, Geico offer 9k for my uncle 02 DC. Big $$ difference and the 02 was cleaner inside and out but got less somehow.

 

They will give you as little as they can get away with. Their only concern/directive is saving the insurance company money; they do NOT care about you or the true value of their property.

My girlfriend got hit and totaled her Yaris. It was well maintained, good condition, and a very nice car that would have got her through college and beyond. They tried to give her WAY less than it was worth based on local trashed Yarises. They compiled a "market evaluation report" from a third party company and sent it to us, where they tried to justify the price they were willing to pay.

All I'm saying is DO NOT accept their market evaluation. Pour over it and find the cracks in it. They initially tried to offer us HALF of the price of the car. We poked holes in their evaluation, argued, didn't accept the price. They then sent a NEW evaluation with different local examples and came up to 3/4 of what it was worth. Know what we did next? Argued, poked holes in the report, and eventually got the FULL price for a Yaris of that condition.

Find local or farther examples that are above Bluebook value. Do not accept their numbers. They will say things like "well I really can't go any higher" / "I'm not authorized to give that price" but they can and they will. Twist their ear. If they aren't budging, tell them that you'll need a day to think about it and do more of your own research. Do NOT take their first offer or even their second. Find and compile your own examples based on rarity, high price, options (including rims and tire wear).

Insurance companies love to take your money, but HATE giving it out. Argue, fight, and get your money's worth. You've already paid it to them in monthly fees!!!

 

A N Y bank / credit union can get U in the ball park

the insurance is NOT going to offer any more thn they have to

no less it matters who was at fault....................if it was U

the guilt factor is a nut crusher

 

Sorry for making a second post, but:

Either they pay you for the parts in FULL or you go and take them ALL off your truck. Do not compromise on this with them. If the part is on the vehicle, take pictures, show based on online listings how much that part was NEW. If they won't pay for it "without a receipt" then get your socket wrench and take it home with you. Absolutely do not play that game with them

 

if its on an impound lot

they wont allow him to touch it

unless he had a rider for the aftermarket parts

they may last ditch let him buy it back...................most o the time NOT

worth time + effort

tho some bite....................hard getting that taste out the mouth

 

In the same way that they have to let you get your personal affects out of the vehicle, until they "buy" the vehicle from him it's still 100% his, he owns it, no dispute. When my girlfriend's insurance bought her totaled Yaris from her, I went to the repair shop it was sitting at to collect her stuff, which included the jack/spare out of the hatch. They bought her vehicle, not all her possessions in it.

That isn't exactly the same as aftermarket replacement parts like enhanced suspension/engine stuff, but I would take any lights/lightbars, accessories like that. I would argue and fuss over ALL of that. If the accessory isn't added to the price, then it's YOURS. At some point there is a break-even for them and it's easier for them to capitulate to you than continue arguing. Wear them out

 

Whens the part out