Total loss settlement disputes are common.  The value of your vehicle is very important to you, but it may not be as important to your insurance company or the insurance company of that guy or gal that hit your car and totaled.  No matter how your vehicle became a total loss, there are some options available to you that most don’t know about.  They will help you to advocate for the best settlement on your total loss.  The most common method of settling a dispute about the value of a vehicle is to employ the services of a non-interested professional.  If the professional is truly non interested and an expert, then their opinion should be based upon accepted appraisal methodology and proper education, training and experience.

If your claim is against your own insurance company, then 99% of the time, if there is a dispute about the value of a claim, then you have the right to invoke the “appraisal clause”.

Here is a quote from a commonly used appraisal clause in personal auto policies:

APPRAISAL

A.  If we and you do not agree on the amount of loss, either may demand an appraisal of the loss.

In this event, each party will select a competent and impartial appraiser. The two appraisers will select an umpire.  The appraisers will state separately the actual cash value and the amount of loss.  If they fail to agree, they will submit their differences to the umpire.  A decision agreed to by any two will be binding.

Each party will:

1.  Pay its chosen appraiser, and

2.  Bear the expenses of the appraisal and umpire equally

B.  We do not waive any of our rights under this policy by agreeing to an appraisal.

If your claim is against the insurance company of another person, then you can still get a professional appraisal to help with the negotiation of your claim, but you’ll have to present your evidence properly and there will be no appraisal clause language in effect, so it will really be important to present strong evidence to compel the insurance company to settle with you.  Our reports will document every aspect of your vehicle’s fair market value and make the negotiation process easy.

Many insurance companies use a computer or a third party service to determine the value of your vehicle.  Although these computers can sometimes get close to the fair market value, a close inspection of any of the reports will reveal that they do not use really comparable vehicles and they do not explain their methodology.  Additionally, there is no appraiser’s signature on the report, so who is one to inquire with when there is a discrepancy or mistake?

In addition to professionally documenting your loss, we will also evaluate any documentation the insurance company has already provided you and tell you whether or not our services would be of value.  Sometimes, we find that the insurance company has made a fair offer, believe it or not!  Not all insurance companies are out to get you, but plenty are.

Can you tell the difference?

Pricing:

$150 + tax within D/FW

$225 + tax (Appraisal fee of $75 included outside the D/FW area)

Order A Total Loss Market Value Report Now!

Are you looking for an expert to turn to after seeing the offer on your total loss?  We offer consumers an expert who can guide them through their claim and certify the value of their vehicle after it is declared a total loss.  We have 14 years working at the adjuster's desk on claims and vehicle appraisals and we know what it takes to recover successfully.

If you know you are being taken advantage of, don't sit idly by!  Call or email us or simply fill out our free claim consultation form below and find out if it will be worth the fight.

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