If your car was totaled in an accident, a car accident injury lawyer can help you determine what’s next. Dealing with a serious car crash can have a major effect on your life. After the accident, your car might be undriveable. Aside from your car, you may have injuries that need treatment, you may need to take time off work to recover, and you may have lasting physical and mental issues from the crash. At the Kang Law Group, we understand the toll that an accident can take on you. We’re here to help drivers whose cars have been totaled in crashes.
Your Options If Your Car Was Totaled
As Oregon car crash lawyers, we assist drivers with receiving compensation for their injuries and damages in accidents. You may have heard that compensation could be available because your car was totaled, but you might need some guidance on requesting and obtaining the compensation you deserve. Dealing with insurance companies can seem frustrating and confusing. Luckily, we’re here to help guide you through the process.
First, you’ll need to file a claim for the accident. You can file with your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company (ask your lawyer if you’re unsure how to do this). The other driver’s insurance company can investigate your claim and may deny responsibility for the accident.
Soon after you file a claim, an insurance company representative will inform you whether they think your car is totaled (a total loss) or they think it can be repaired. The decision as to whether a car is totaled depends on several factors, such as how much the car was worth when the accident happened and how much it would cost to get it repaired. The company may make a payment offer at this point. The payment offer may be based on what their representative thinks the car was worth undamaged or may be based on some other calculation. You can decline the payment offer and get your own appraisal. If you’ve received a payment offer from an insurance company for your totaled car, wait before you cash the check. This is a great time to discuss your options with an experienced accident lawyer. You may be surprised to learn that you are entitled to more compensation than the insurance company has offered. You may want to seek an independent appraisal of your car’s value or take other steps in your case. But by cashing the check, you might signal acceptance of the company’s offer and release any further claim for compensation. Before you head to the bank, talk to a lawyer.
How Can a Lawyer Help with a Totaled Car?
You may wonder how a lawyer can help if your car is totaled. The fact is, the insurance company may not offer you all the compensation you deserve for your car or other damages resulting from the accident. If you cash that check for the car, you could inadvertently waive your right to pursue more compensation. Instead, you need a car accident lawyer familiar with Oregon law to review your specific circumstances. Some examples of additional compensation you could receive include:
- Greater compensation for your totaled vehicle based on its true value
- Assistance with replacing property that was in the vehicle and got damaged
- Payment for medical expenses such as an emergency room visit and continuing care
- Compensation for lost wages or earning potential
Most people who have their cars totaled in road accidents must obtain a replacement vehicle or arrange alternate transportation to work, school, and other obligations. In some cases, the other driver involved in the accident’s insurance may pay for a rental car or other costs. Finding a knowledgeable car crash lawyer is the first step toward evaluating the appropriate compensation you should receive to help cover the costs you incur due to the accident.
What If the Insurance Company Offers Too Little?
If you and your lawyer agree that the insurance company’s initial offer is too little to cover your damages from the accident, you have a couple of options. Your lawyer may advise you to continue negotiations with the insurance company to try to agree on a greater amount. This may involve exchanging information such as an independent appraisal of your totaled car, your medical bills, and receipts for other costs to prove that your case is worth more. If you can reach an agreement, you can settle with the insurance company. If you cannot reach an agreement with the insurance company, your lawyer may advise that it is best to file a lawsuit in court to pursue compensation. An experienced car accident attorney will guide you through the process of pursuing the lawsuit. Some lawsuits settle before trial, while others go to trial before a jury or a judge. Again, getting legal advice early in your case is very important, as it could improve your chances of recovering compensation.
Need Legal Help After a Car Accident? Call the Kang Law Group
Did you total your car in an accident, and was someone else at fault? You need legal advice about your insurance claim. The Kang Law Group’s knowledgeable team of auto accident injury lawyers can help you determine what’s next. We’re on your side when it comes to negotiating with the insurance company. Our firm offers free and confidential consultations to accident victims and their families in Beaverton, Gresham, Vancouver, Salem and nearby cities. Contact us at (503) 646-3131 or message us online to learn more.
