Practice Areas

• Car Accidents
• Distracted Driving
• Uninsured Motorist Claims (UM/UIM)
• Truck and Bus Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents
• Injuries to Children
• Dog Attacks
• Wrongful Death
• Dangerous Drugs & Devices
• Other Injury Claims

Key Topics

Property Damage / Rental Car

• Paying Storage Fees on a Totaled Car after a Wreck
• Extreme Weather & Hail Damage
• What Is A Diminished Value Claim In Texas?
• Property Damages Can Add Up
• Property Damage

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Getting Your Car Repaired After An Accident

People often ask me as a personal injury lawyer, whether I can help them with their property damage claim for the vehicle which was damaged in the auto collision. I can, and I am happy to do so free of chaarge for my PI clients. If you did not sustain any injuries in the wreck, however, then the truth is you can usually handle your property damage claim on your own.

Getting Your Car Repaired
After the insurance claim is started, the other driver's insurance company will first perform a liability investigation to determine if they will accept responsibility for the accident. Once that investigation is completed and they accept responsibility, or liability, then the adjuster will either have you take your car into a body shop or have an appraiser come out to wherever the car is (home, body shop or city auto pound) and appraise the damage that your vehicle sustained. The insurance company will either cut you a check for the damage or pay the body shop directly. During this time, they should authorize a rent car for you to drive. Sometimes the entire rental car issue can be tricky at best and oftentimes it is extremely frustrating. Here are my thoughts on the various Rental Car Issues.

What If My Car Is Considered A Total Loss?
If your vehicle is considered a total loss (the cost to repair it exceeds the value of the car), then you will receive a check for the value of the car, plus sales tax, title and license fees. If you have a loan on the car, that loan must be paid off first, and you will receive the excess money. If your car is determined to be worth less than the outstanding balance on your car loan, then you will be responsible for the difference. If you purchased "gap" insurance with your loan, then that insurance will cover the difference. Oftentimes, there is a dispute as to how to calculate the value of your car. Websites that assist in this valuation process are NADA Guides, Kelly Blue Book, AutoTrader, Cars.com, and Edmunds.

Buying Back Your "Totaled" Car
In the usual situation, you end up signing the title over to the insurance company when you receive the check for the total loss. If you want to actually keep your totaled car as well, you can do so, but a deduction will be taken from your check for the scrap value of the vehicle. This deduction varies depending on how much of the car can be salvaged and sold off as parts. If you do keep your car, then the car's title will now show that it is a salvaged vehicle.

Many of my clients have already handled the property damage issues before they hire me, but if they are still in the process of working through the issues, then I will gladly help them. This part of the legal services I provide and there is no additional fee for this part of the claim. If you would like to talk to me about your car damage issues and your injuries, please do not hesitate to call an experienced attorney at Fort Worth 817-294-1900 or contact me online.

Other Articles You Might Be Interested In:
Inherent Diminished Value Claims
Drunk Driving Accidents
Uninsured Motorist Claims (UM/UIM)
How do I get the police report from my car accident?
The Insurance Adjuster Might Seem Nice... But They're Not!

The Anderson Law Firm offers free no obligation consultations to people injured in accidents or who have suffered physical harm as a result of someone else's actions. We do not charge you to initially discuss your situation and establish whether you have a claim to pursue. You can call us and discuss your case over the phone, we can set up an appointment for you to come into our office, or we can visit you in your home anywhere in the metroplex.

If after meeting with us you decide that we are the best personal injury lawyer for you, then we will enter into a contingent fee agreement. This means that we only get paid when we win a settlement or jury verdict in your favor. You don't pay us anything up front. We will cover all expenses spent working on your case. Only when we win for you will you need to pay us. If we don't win, then you owe us nothing.

Contact us online now or call us 24 hours a day toll free on 1-800-354-MARK (1-800-345-6-275). You can also call us locally in Fort Worth on 817-294-1900 or in Dallas on 214-327-8000.

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