If you have been in an accident where your car can be declared an auto total loss, then you can be under a lot of stress. However, if the insurance company starts intimating that they are withholding payments and dragging their heels on paying you the damages, and your stress levels are going to go exponentially up!
There are things you can do to protect yourself.
For so many of us, having a car is a necessity for basic living and not having the money to get a new vehicle can severely impair our ability to run our lives. If you are in this unfortunately common situation, remember that you do have options and resources at your disposal.
The first thing that you should be aware of is that having an auto total loss is that this process is a negotiation, not a final number given by the insurance company. The offer that the insurance company puts in front of you is not final (even if they call it that), no matter how much they imply that it is. The process towards getting a final number that you will both accept can be complex, but it is important that you know that you have rights to assert. Be aware of the fact that in this negotiation, as with any negotiation that you have with your insurance company, you will be able affect the final number. Continue reading »