What Are My Options if My Vehicle Was Totaled in a Crash?

When an insurance company in Ohio calculates that a wrecked vehicle’s repair cost is more than its actual cash value (ACV), it will deem that vehicle a total loss—or “totaled.” This is more common than you think. Around 25% of car accidents result in at least one vehicle being considered totaled by an insurance company.

Older vehicles are more likely to be considered totaled after crashes because they have a lower marketplace value and may require harder-to-find parts. However, newer vehicles can also be totaled in accidents—including crashes that may not seem serious or highly damaging to the vehicles. Because newer vehicles include advanced technology, repairs and part replacements are often extremely expensive after a crash.

Finding out that your vehicle was totaled in a crash can add significant stress to an already difficult situation. It means giving up your vehicle—which you may have a sentimental attachment to and desperately need for daily transportation—to the insurance company and accepting a check for the ACV minus any deductible. It means looking for a new car to drive, which isn’t easy when you’re also injured.

In this blog, we discuss your options if your vehicle was totaled in an accident in Ohio.

You Can Take These Steps If Your Vehicle Was Totaled

Your vehicle is part of your livelihood. You need it to get to work, run errands, pick up and drop off your children at school and activities, visit family and friends, and more. Being without it for even a few days can be difficult, and when it’s totaled, you may feel uncertain about what to do next.

If your vehicle was totaled in Ohio, here are your options:

• Accept the Insurance Company’s Payout: The insurance company will determine the ACV of your vehicle and offer a settlement. This payout is typically the market value of your car before the accident, minus any deductible. This can be a substantial sum for a new vehicle or a small amount for an older vehicle. If you were also injured in the crash, don’t worry—you don’t have to settle the cost of your medical expenses at the same time as you do your vehicle. These settlements are handled separately, and if the insurance company insists otherwise, it’s time to bring in a lawyer.
• Negotiate the Settlement: If you believe the insurer's ACV is too low, you can negotiate by providing evidence such as recent repairs or comparable vehicle listings to support a higher valuation. Your injury lawyer can potentially also help with this step.
• Retain Your Vehicle: You don’t have to give your totaled vehicle to the insurance company if you disagree that it actually is a total loss. Instead, you can keep your totaled vehicle, which means the insurance company will deduct the salvage value from your payout. You will receive a salvage title and are responsible for making and paying for any repairs yourself. You must repair the vehicle to the point where it can be issued a rebuilt title if you wish to continue driving it, as it is illegal to take a salvage vehicle on public roads in most cases.
• Purchase a New Vehicle: If you accept the insurance company’s payout, you can use the money to purchase a new or used vehicle. You may need to supplement the payout with additional funds or a financing option yourself if the payout isn’t enough to cover your desired replacement.

How Can I Tell if My Vehicle Will Be Considered Totaled?

Although it’s up to the insurance company to determine if your vehicle is totaled after a crash, a few telltale signs can warn you about whether you’ll get money for repairs or a check for your vehicle’s ACV.

Common signs that the insurance company might total a vehicle after a crash include:

• Extensive Structural Damage: If the frame or structural components are severely damaged, repairs may not be feasible or safe. This is especially true if the damage is near or on the vehicle’s front end. That’s because most of a vehicle’s essential components are in or near the engine bay.
• Deployed Airbags: Airbags may deploy even in low-speed, low-damage crashes. However, airbag deployment itself results in a costly repair. Airbag replacement can cost thousands of dollars, especially in vehicles with multiple airbags that all must be replaced after a crash.
• Leaking Fluids: Not all leaking fluids are treated the same. For example, a cracked windshield wiper fluid tank is not as expensive to repair as a broken oil pan or pump system. However, a sudden leak when there wasn’t one before the crash may be a sign that your vehicle will be totaled.
• Older or Low-Value Vehicle: If your vehicle is 10, 15, or even 20 years old with significant mileage, the insurance company will likely total it even if the damage isn’t severe. Older vehicles with lower market values are likelier to be totaled, even with minor or moderate damage.

Our Ohio Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Get Maximum Compensation

After a crash resulting in vehicle damage, you have two options for getting compensation for repairs or vehicle replacement: your auto insurance’s collision coverage or the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. Depending on the type of claim you file, either insurer will assess your vehicle after a crash and determine if it’s a total loss.

However, insurance companies often give policyholders and claimants lowball settlements. Whether that means totaling your vehicle or giving you money for repairs and part replacements, there’s a good chance you’ll end up on the wrong side of the deal—especially if you don’t have legal representation.

At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, our Ohio auto accident attorneys can protect your rights throughout the car accident claim process. It’s our goal to get you the money you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage after a crash. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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