Total/Ins. question

[95XLT]

Not sure if this is the right place or not. I rear ended someone today in my explorer , did a good amount of damage to the front, the lady I hit had alot more due to my brush guard. I had already been looking for another car, how likely is it they will total my car? The brush guard dented the hood, the fender over the front will is bent, the front fender is rubbing my tire when I turn it's so bent, the area around the foglights is more or less gone along with the fog lights, the grill is junk and I think I have steering problems. Can I force them to total the car? Is there any chance the brush guard bent the frame as it was bolted onto it? Will the Ins. Co. have to replace the guard? Any tips or input would be helpful, this is the first time having to deal with a Ins. Co.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[fastcougar]

Not sure if this is the right place or not. I rear ended someone today in my explorer , did a good amount of damage to the front, the lady I hit had alot more due to my brush guard. I had already been looking for another car, how likely is it they will total my car? The brush guard dented the hood, the fender over the front will is bent, the front fender is rubbing my tire when I turn it's so bent, the area around the foglights is more or less gone along with the fog lights, the grill is junk and I think I have steering problems. Can I force them to total the car? Is there any chance the brush guard bent the frame as it was bolted onto it? Will the Ins. Co. have to replace the guard? Any tips or input would be helpful, this is the first time having to deal with a Ins. Co.

Thanks,

Dan

It will take most insurance companies 60-80% of total value in damages to consider it totalled. Considering that you are talking about a 95, it depends on the options you had installed. Keep in mind that the Brush guard wasn't a factory piece and they should account for the cost of that and that right there might put it over the 80% mark and just get your car totaled. Glad you where OK and good luck!

 

[jimbo74]

its getting totalled... insurance companies are like that...

 

[00XLS]

take a look at the frame, along with the body lines. if its bent or their screwed up you did a decent amount of damage and if they do total it they'll include the cost of the brush guard so long as you can prove what you paid for it i think. when i destroyed my blazer they factored in things i wouldn't have thought to. if you want a good idea how much it will total for, get the red book value, what a dealer would pay for it and they blue book value, what you pay for it. ( off something other than kbb) then average them, include tax tags and there ya go. thats how they did mine.

 

[95XLT]

But can I "force" them to total it? The guy is coming tuesday and I want to know my rights. I think they will total it, I had a volvo with allot less damage and that cost almost 3k to fix. I'm just looking for some tips or hints.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[00XLS]

Not that I know of, its their call I believe. Sounds like you did enough sheet metal damage and stuff that they will total it. Get the value of it and then post a quick list of whats destroyed.

 

[MONMIX]

No, you can not "force" a total.
A 95 does not hold much value so it might total.
You can help it along my making the truck look uncared for.
Unwashed, trash all over the inside. That will lower it condition value.
It is your truck, and you don't have to fix it.
Just don't create additional damage. Most insurance adjusters will pick up on that.
And that is insurance fraud. Which is illegal.