Even if the offer seems reasonable at first glance, you should always negotiate. After researching the value of your car, create a number that you think is fair for a deal. It must be the absolute minimum that you are willing to accept. In negotiations, the insurance company may want to prove that you were more at fault than it claims to reduce your payment.
To counter them, it is important to enter into negotiations with as much information as possible. Police reports, photos, and witness testimony can be solid evidence to help prove your innocence in an accident. The foundations of any good negotiation are a fair idea of what your car or its repairs will cost and patience. Document everything and ask for documents in return.
If the insurance company refuses to be fair or realistic in its offers to you, you may consider filing a lawsuit in civil court, and remember that just because you file a lawsuit doesn't mean you'll end up spending time in a courtroom. If your car was damaged in a car accident, your car insurance or the other driver's insurance must pay for damage to your vehicle. If you can't determine a fair insurance agreement, a board-certified car accident lawyer can help. If you can't come to an agreement right after negotiating with an insurance company, you may need to hire a car accident lawyer.
If your car is quite old, you may need new parts to repair it, making the car more valuable than it was before the accident. Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be difficult, especially if you were injured in the accident. If the insurer pays the replacement value, they estimate the cost of buying a replacement car of a similar value to yours. If you're looking for a new car insurance company, check out who other drivers rate as the best car insurance companies.
We strongly recommend that you speak with a qualified car accident lawyer if you think your insurance company is not offering fair compensation. Many insurance companies rely on this report to provide a market assessment that shows the value of the car and ultimately use it to determine the liquidation amount. Even if you've never negotiated with an insurance company before, it's possible to get a car accident settlement that takes into account all of your injuries, the pain and suffering you suffered, and other losses, such as damage to your car and unearned wages. Sutliff & Stout are experienced car accident lawyers representing injured clients who have been involved in car, motorcycle and truck accidents in Houston and the surrounding areas.
After your car has been destroyed, you may expect your insurance company to pay you what you paid for your car so that you can replace it. The best way to start estimating total car accident damages is to look at your medical bills and lost wages, and then add them all together.