Owned my prius less than 90 days and in an accident

It does not take much to get a Prius totaled. If the air bags deployed, they will probably total it.


This one has the engine and inverter and transmission OK, but it was just totaled by the insurance company.

If it did not deploy the airbag, then it was just a light bump and you do not need to worry about its safety if it is repaired at a reputable shop.

You might insist that they take it to a Toyota dealer. That would help both with safety and with the likelihood that it costs more to fix it than to total it.

Thanks,
Dan

 

You can file a claim for diminished value,but the paying insurance company will probably fight it hard. It's worth doing though. People often get checks cut for many thousands of dollars if they go through with it.

 

I recall my Bimmer when it was rear ended was a heart break. It was close to totaled but Ins decided to repair. I drove the car another 3 years and sold it at Blue book.

 

Since the car is less than 90 days old, you will receive a lot of resistance from the perpetrators insurance company, but I would not settle for anything less than a brand new car.

I'd tell the woman's insurance company that they just purchased a Prius.

 

If you don 't have gap insurance expect to write a check for the same model unless you put 20% down. Cars depreciate about 4-6 grand. Insurance won 't give you money for the sales tax you paid also so that's a few grand more.

I recall my friend had to pay his old loan off and kick in a few grand out if his own money. He got to keep his totaled car with a salvage title. Not sure how he did it but he got a check for the total and sold his totaled car as is with a salvage title in California where the car was registered.

He still says he lost money financially when the deal was over and he wished the car was repairable.

Maybe it works different in NY

 

That's what the insurance companies want you to believe.

In the case of a NEW car, you are to be returned to the same situation as if the accident never happened.


You might have to litigate, but you CAN get everything back that you lost, including attorney fees.

 

Let us know how it works out

 

Here's an opinion from the NY State Insurance Department that says in the event of a total loss the insurance company must also pay the sales tax.

I had an argument about a total loss (not on a new car) with my insurance company many years ago, and the Insurance Department was a great help in persuading the company to settle in my favor.

 

The insurance company will make numerous attempts to mitigate their cost.

Legally, they know what the law is. You are entitled to be "made whole" at no cost to you, unless you had contributory negligence that caused the accident.

Unfortunately, too many who are damaged, get pressured to settle for less.

 

bummer man, sorry to hear it. all the best with your settlement!

 

My boss had his several year old BMW sandwiched on a freeway off ramp, with 5 cars involved. He stuck it out for diminished value and they cut him a check for about $7,000.

 

Just saying that from the picture it does not look like a total loss but you never know. I have seen similar pictures with battery damage that tips the car to a total loss

 

Whatever their offer, make sure you price out a similar vehicle and demand that you get compensated at retail value for it, including taxes, title, and license fees.

My old Subaru was totaled and I was initially offered $1000 for it. I had the luxury of having another vehicle to drive, so I found advertisements for 3 similar vehicles and told the insurance company I will not consider the matter satisfied unless they gave me $2500. It took a couple months, but I got $2,500. They incrementally increased their payout as time went on, but since having the open case on their books looks bad and costs them money, eventually they saw it my way.

I don't know how much your time is worth, but often times it is less than the insurance adjusters time. Drawing things out is a good tactic to get a higher payoff. Besides, I've never seen an insurance company have a fair initial price.

As far as concern about the battery goes; if it hasn't already caught fire, it isn't likely to. There are many safeguards in place to protect the occupants of the vehicle, and the most likely time that a catastrophe would strike is at the moment the car was impacted.

 

Insurance companies are businesses that have to watch their "bottom line."

If they think it is going to cost them more money in the long run, they will settle.


If they know that you would go to court, the adjustor's supervisor sees $$ signs that will reduce their bottom line. The adjustor sees his or her "performance rating" and bonus tanking.