What if Insurance Isn’t Paying Enough for a Totaled Car?

If insurance isn’t paying enough for a totaled vehicle, you’ll want to hire an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer to help with your claim. An attorney can negotiate with the insurer to increase their settlement offer, giving you the financial support you need to replace your vehicle and cover any other losses you’ve incurred due to the incident.

If the insurance provider refuses to raise their offer, an attorney can help you file a lawsuit for compensation. Let’s take a closer look at what happens when an insurance company refuses to provide the settlement you’re owed and how a lawyer can help you get the results you deserve.

Negotiating a Settlement When Insurance Isn’t Paying Enough for a Totaled Car

When the insurance company isn’t paying enough for your totaled car, hiring a lawyer is your best course of action. An attorney can determine exactly how much you’re owed or your totaled vehicle and draw on their negotiating skills to convince insurers to raise their offer.

In many cases, when insurance companies see that you don’t have legal representation, they’ll try to take advantage of you by offering a lowball settlement very soon after your collision. These early settlement offers are often never large enough to replace your vehicle and cover the other costs you’re facing due to the accident.

An experienced attorney will be closely familiar with all the dishonest tactics that insurers use to avoid paying claimants the money they’re owed. When the insurance company finds out that you’ve hired an attorney to help with your claim, they’ll likely realize that they have to play fair or risk facing legal action. 

Ordering an Appraisal Can Also Resolve the Situation

In many cases, the insurance policy will have an appraisal clause that allows you to order an appraisal of your vehicle. If you choose to do this, an appraiser will evaluate your vehicle and calculate its pre-accident value. The appraiser will base their estimate on the following factors:

• The year of your vehicle
• The make of your vehicle
• The model of your vehicle
• Maintenance records
• Your vehicle’s odometer reading before the crash

Getting your car appraised can show the insurance company how much money you need to compensate for your totaled vehicle. A dedicated attorney can help facilitate the appraisal process and work tirelessly to get the compensation you need to replace your totaled car. 

Filing a Lawsuit to Recover Compensation for a Totaled Car

If the insurance company still won’t pay enough for a totaled car after your attorney has negotiated with them and you’ve ordered an appraisal of the vehicle, you may need to take legal action. In this scenario, you’ll need a committed lawyer by your side to ensure you get the best results possible.

A lawyer can gather evidence, represent you in court, and fight to get the money you need to pay for a replacement vehicle. Here’s what an attorney can do to ensure your lawsuit is as successful as possible:

• Gather evidence that shows the value of your vehicle
• Collect police reports, witness statements, and other information about the incident
• File a strong lawsuit on your behalf
• Present evidence and legal arguments in court
• Fight for a settlement that meets your needs
• Abide by filing deadlines and requirements
• Provide legal advice throughout your case and answer all your questions
• Advise you on what happens if insurance doesn’t pay for a totaled car

Don’t Wait to Hire an Attorney and Get Started on Your Claim

Waiting to reach out to a car accident lawyer can hurt your case in a variety of different ways. For example, delaying your claim can allow evidence to go missing, which weakens your claim and hurts your chances of getting a fair settlement from the insurance provider. 

Another reason to get started on your case as soon as possible is that the statute of limitations may apply to your situation if you need to file a civil suit. Under Georgia Code § 9-3-33, you have two years from the date of your accident to sue.

If you don’t comply with this important filing requirement, you could lose your right to pursue compensation for your totaled vehicle, medical expenses, and other losses. Fortunately, as long as you reach out to a lawyer soon, they’ll likely be able to get your suit filed in a timely manner. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Car Accident Lawyer

If insurance isn’t paying for a totaled car, the team at John Foy & Associates is here to help you pursue the settlement you’re owed. Our firm has recovered over $1 billion in case results for accident victims like yourself since 2003. We have the experience and resources necessary to get the results you’re looking for.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a skilled car accident lawyer. They’ll meet with you to discuss your case and determine what needs to be done to get the money you need to replace your vehicle. We look forward to hearing from you soon and fighting for the outcome you need to get back on the road.