How to get an Accurate Estimate of your Car Damage

Next to injuries, the second most important thing that car accident victims worry about is property damage – and how to recover from it.

But before you can set yourself on restoring your car into its original condition, you need to assess your damage first. If you are insured, chances are the insurance adjuster will provide you with an estimate cost that probably you can barely afford.

However, you cannot rely on the assessment of your insurance adjuster alone; getting an accurate estimate of your damage would require some work.

Generally after an accident, your car insurance (or the other party) will pay for the following:

• The cost of repair
• The value of the car if it was totaled (in total loss)
• The cost and replacement of other personal property damaged during the accident
• Cost of rental car that you will used while your car is under repair
• Cost of towing and storage
• The diminished value of your car

When trying to make an estimate of your car damage, you also need to know whether the cost of repair would far exceed 70 per cent of the car’s fair market value. Otherwise, the insurance will declare a vehicle total loss. If the car is worth less than it will cost to repair it, you are entitled to the actual cash value of the car before it was damaged.

Most insurance companies follow a two-step rule when declaring a vehicle total loss:

• Determine how much it will cost to fix the car
• Determine the Actual Cash Value of the car

Here is a simple guideline on how you can get an accurate car damage estimate:

1. Get an expert – To evaluate the true worth of the damage, you need to get the services of an expert in the field. If your car was wrecked or damaged in an auto accident, you need an experienced body shop to properly evaluate the damage and determine the costs of parts to be replaced or restored.
2. Make comparison – To know the value of your car, look at the similar model and use it as a guide. Compare the cost and check with your local car dealer to know the real value. To make a better comparative value, check with the online services of Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds. Comparing the value will help you strengthen your case for better compensation.
3. Make multiple assessment – When getting an estimate of your damage, do not rely on one person or body shop alone. Consult with several shops to obtain multiple assessment of the damage. This will help you get a clearer picture and more precise value of the damage. However, be sure to get only estimates from top firms for your claim. Submit these estimate value that you got along with the one that your insurance adjuster had recommended.
4. Consult with a lawyer.

Having your car repaired after an accident is the responsibility of either the car insurance or the offending party. However, making sure that your car is restored to good condition is another thing.

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