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When Is A Car Totaled?

After an accident in your vehicle, you might be experiencing high repair costs. There comes a point when your car is deemed “totaled”. This means that the cost to repair your car is more than the value of the car. Some states have different laws for this. Alabama for instance, has a threshold of 75%. This means that if the damage to your vehicle adds up to 75% of the value of the vehicle, it is considered totaled. Talk to lawyers in Lincoln, CA to discuss the laws around totaled vehicles if you think your car was totaled unfairly.

 Over 40% of states use a Total Loss Formula. Insurers will compare the cost of repairs plus the scrap value of your car. This number is then compared to the value of your car. If it equals or exceeds the actual cash value, your car is totaled. California is one of the states that uses the Total Loss Formula. If your car has been totaled, it might be a good idea to contact a lawyer in Lincoln, CA to make sure the responsible party pays for the cost of getting a new vehicle.

The thing most people don’t realize is how easily the damage adds up on a vehicle. It’s not always easy to tell if a car is totaled just by looking at it. Some cars are totaled easier than others. Even fender-benders can render your car totaled. This can be because you have an older vehicle, and the value is lower or because of where the damage is. Some cars have a unibody design. This means that the body around the car is all one piece that is placed over a frame. This leads to higher repair costs because a small accident will require the whole body to be replaced. Attorneys in Lincoln, CA can help you get a better pay out for your totaled car. Most insurance companies will pay you the value of the car which can be much less than the cost of buying a new vehicle.