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What Does Total Loss Mean After a Car Accident?

total loss

Being involved in a car accident is a nerve-wracking experience, and your anxiety and stress can keep going long after the crash is over. Aside from making sure that everyone in your vehicle is not injured, you are going to have to assess the condition that your vehicle is in after your car accident. In order to make sure that you get a fair shake for your vehicle, it is imperative to know what a total loss vehicle means and the options that are available to you.

If an insurance company adjuster has found that your car has been totaled, they are estimating that the amount of money it will take to repair your vehicle is greater than the vehicle’s worth. If this is the case, then you are going to want to learn about your available options.

A variety of factors determine how insurance companies determine what your car is actually worth. Among the factors that they consider are your vehicle’s condition and age, mileage, resale value, along with what similar vehicles are selling for in your area by utilizing Kelley Blue Book and the National Automobile Dealers Association.

What Should I Do if My Car Is Totaled?

If the other party is at fault for the car accident that totaled your car, then their insurance company will have to reimburse you for the value of your vehicle. The following insurance policies can offer coverage for a totaled car:

  • Comprehensive insurance coverage: If your car is totaled in a weather-related accident, collision with an animal, or destroyed in a fire, then comprehensive insurance coverage will compensate you for your vehicle after deductions. This coverage can also protect you if your car is stolen and then found in a condition that is beyond repair.
  • Collision insurance coverage: Collision coverage will reimburse your vehicle’s value after your car crash, regardless of who is at fault.
  • Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage will come into play when the at-fault party has no insurance or their insurance is not enough to compensate you.

In Delaware, you can pursue compensation if you are less than 50 percent at fault for your accident. You may be able to collect compensation for vehicle damages, hospital bills, disfigurement, and lost income.

Wilmington Car Accident Lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Can Determine if You Can Collect Damages for a Totaled Vehicle

If a car accident has left you with severe injuries and a totaled vehicle, our skilled Wilmington car accident lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. can help you. Contact us online or call us at 302-656-5445 to schedule a free consultation today. We are located in Wilmington and Millsboro, Delaware, and we serve clients in Dover, New Castle County, and Sussex County.