Car accidents can be scary, painful, and even costly. Even a minor fender-bender can involve lots of time cleaning up your car and your own car repairs, as well as dealing with the other person’s insurance company. If you have a collision or third-party liability policy, you will have coverage for the damage to your car and other expenses involved in the accident. What you may not know is that insurance companies offer much less money than the cost of the repair -– which allows you to get some cash from them instead of taking what they offer you. In this article, we will discuss how to get money from your car accident without a lawyer.
The general principle is that if repair costs are lower than what the auto insurance company offers, then it’s in their interest to make a deal with you so they don’t pay more than necessary. There are tons of different scenarios, of course, but most people can negotiate so they get at least some money back from their insurer rather than just letting them cover all the costs. If nothing else, it’s good information to know in case something like this happens again!
Research your own car’s value.
Before you even talk to an insurance adjuster, you will want to know exactly how much your car is worth right now. This will help you to know how much you should be aiming for in terms of a settlement. The easiest way to look up your car’s value right now is to use a website such as Kelley Blue Book.
You should also know the year, make, and model of the car you were driving. This will help the adjuster get a feel for your car’s condition. Depending on how the accident happened, they may have you take the car in to be looked at by a third-party appraiser. In some cases, the auto insurance company may have you take your car to their shop to have repairs done.
If this happens, be sure to get a copy of the estimate for repairs, as it will be significantly less than what a third-party shop will charge. If you are in an accident but do not have collision coverage, then you will be responsible for the entire cost of your car repairs. Make sure you know what your rights are in that case.
Ask for the Cash to be Paid Up Front
If you are dealing with an insurance adjuster over the phone, you will want to get the conversation off on the right foot by asking for the cash to be paid upfront. No matter what, the adjuster will try to get you to accept their offer for the repairs upfront. You are in a stronger position if you can get the money upfront.
Insurance adjusters make money when they save the company money, so you will get better results by asking for the cash to be paid upfront. The best way to go about it is to say something like, “I appreciate your offer, but before I can accept it, I’ll need the cash in my hand so that I can get repairs done right away.” If you are dealing with an adjuster over the phone, then you will probably be able to get the cash right away. If it is an adjuster in person, then you will likely get the cash when they finish the paperwork or when they send you a check.
Subrogation
If the insurance company pays out a large sum, they will be entitled to get some of it back. This is called subrogation, and it applies in cases of both injuries and damage to your car. When you settle with the insurance company out of court, you will have to sign a waiver saying that you are aware the company will try to get some of the money back from you.
Most insurance companies will try to subrogate the amount against medical bills, property damage, and your car’s repair costs. If the accident was caused by a third party, then the insurance company will also get subrogation rights against the third party’s assets as well.
Negotiate a Settlement and Be Firm
When it comes time to negotiate a settlement, you will want to be firm about what you need to get your car repaired. If the repair estimate is $2000, then you want to aim for somewhere between $1500 and $2000. The insurance adjuster will likely try to go below $1000 or try to get a payment plan of a few hundred dollars per month.
In most cases, you will want to settle with the insurance company. If they offer $1000, you will probably want to accept it and be done with it rather than drag it out in court. If the offer is close to what you expect the car repairs to cost, then you can try to hold out for a few hundred dollars more. Remember, you have nothing to lose by talking to the adjusters and everything to gain.
Conclusion
If you are in an accident, you will want to do everything you can to get the most money possible from the insurance company. The first step is to know how much your car is worth. From there, you will want to ask for the cash to be paid upfront and be firm about what you need.
Finally, you will want to negotiate a settlement and be firm about what you need. In most cases, you will be able to get more money from the insurance company if you let them do the repairs without you getting a single penny.
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