[Shotimes] car possibly 'totaled': how to handle insurance co.?

[Barry Hayes]

Sorry about the deer. I've run into a few myself. Or vice versa. The too
many miles bit doesn't make sense. If you have collision & comp they
should cover you. Animal hits are not always considered collision.
However, they WILL try to screw you on the value of the car if they
decide to total it. They take the blue book value of the car and compare
it to the cost to repair it. And theym will deduct for high milage. If
the repair cost is more or even too close to the value they would rather
total it to prevent any problems later on with additional claims that it
wasn't fixed right etc. It just becomes easier for them, and they like
easy. If you choose to keep the car they will give you their valuation
minus "salvage value". For example, my former girlfriend had a fire in
her probe several years ago. Because it had 100k the ins co totaled it
and gave her $5000 for it. I then bought the car from them for salvage
value, $500 and fixed it for a few hundred more. I then put another 150k
on it. Still had it until a few months ago when the rust cancer finally
got it. (The girlfriend is long gone!). When I registered it I got a
salvage title stamped "rebuilt". However in my case there was an actual
transfer of ownership. If you are keeping the car there may be no title
change.
In any case they will want to give you the least amount of money they
can. I would  get several estimates and be prepared to argue just in
case. I don't think they can require you to use a specific shop but
check with the insurance division of your state government.  Insurance
is supposed to restore you to the condition you were in before the
accident, so I don't think they can require cheapo parts either. You
should check that aspect too.
Good luck, be prepared. Check you car's value yourself at the Kelly blue
book internet site, or go to the library and check the copy they
probably have there. It willlist the milage and other deductions.
Barry Hayes

--
"It's all in the mind ya know"- George Harrison