1.
Will my injured vehicle ever be the same as
before?
NO. Even
with the best repairs your vehicle will have a
permanent condition "evidence of
repairs" which causes it NOT to be the same
as it was before the injury.
2.
How will accident history affect my trade-in or
the sale of my vehicle?
Under law,
everyone must disclose accident history on a vehicle when selling. After disclosure,
most buyers are not willing to pay the same
amount for a vehicle with accident history as a
vehicle without accident history.
3.
What is like kind and quality and pre-loss
condition?
These words are
interpreted differently. Laws and
insurance policies vary from state to state.
It is generally accepted to be the common
definition of the actual words or to restore the
vehicle to where it was just before the accident
relative to appearance, function, safety and
value.
If a injured vehicle does not meet these
criteria after repaired contact someone who will
be able to document the differences.
4.
What is Loss of Value or Diminished Value?
Loss of Value or
Diminished Value is the difference in the market
value of a vehicle without accident history and
the market value of the same vehicle with
accident history. This difference is part of the
total property damage claim.
5.
What am I owed after an accident?
After a covered
injury, the insurer is obligated to the
policyholder to have the damaged property
completely restored to pre-loss condition.
6.
Who is responsible to pay?
If the accident
was your fault, it is a first party claim, and
you will be dealing with your insurance company
based on the terms and conditions of your
policy.
If the accident was someone else's fault, it is
a third party claim, and you will be dealing
with the insurance company of the person that
hit you. You are under no contractual
obligation to let that insurance company inspect
the damages.
7.
How do I recover all my losses?
The key to
recovering all losses owed is having an accurate
assessment of what you are owed, knowing
who is responsible to pay for damages and
understanding the necessary steps in the
recovery process.
8.
Can I disagree with the amount of loss?
YES.
Consumers have the right to disagree with any
assessed amount of loss. Depending on the
policy and state law, provisions are provided
for dispute resolution.
9.
How do I know all repairs were completed properly?
It is important
to completely visually inspect the vehicle when
it is delivered, but often the average consumer
cannot see all possible defects. If you
are unsure we strongly suggest you get a
professional opinion - any flaws or defects in
repairs after an accident or "evidence of repairs"
can affect your trade-in or resale value.
10.
Who is working for me?
The consumer is
usually pitted between the insurance company's
need to minimize their losses and the repair
facilities need to make a profit. Today
many repair facilities and insurance companies
have established relationships similar to a HMO/PPO.
The consumer needs an unbiased third party to
assure that these circumstances do not short
change them in the recovery of their losses owed
under their policy and the law.
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