How to maximize your total loss auto claim

Maximize your total loss auto claim

November 23, 2020

If you and your insurance company are in a disagreement on the amount of loss or the scope of damages during a claim settlement, and the company refuses to negotiate, you have an option to settle the claim by invoking an appraisal clause in your insurance policy.

You may be familiar with the term “appraisal” as it relates to getting a professional opinion on the value of real estate or personal property. However, most policyholders are not familiar with the insurance appraisal process. When the two parties are unable to agree on the amount of money an insurer should pay to settle a claim, it is likely that there will be a nonjudicial means of resolving disputes between insurers and insureds.

I’m Marty Ruth, owner of Auto Appraisal Network – Detroit. I have more than thirty years’ experience in helping clients maximize their auto insurance claims settlements. You need to know that your insurance company, isn’t always a good neighbor. Their employees are trained in applying “the law of averages” to settle claims in the insurance company’s favor. What does this mean to you?

This means your insurance company isn’t paying you for what your auto is worth. Processing hundreds of millions of dollars of auto claims per day makes your insurance company an expert in predetermining client agreeability. They know most insureds won’t question a total loss settlement that’s based on “average” comparable vehicles. See if any of this sounds familiar:

·       We ran a valuation on your car…

·       Cars like yours in the market are selling for…

·       The shop did a condition report on your car…

·       There’s a Carfax report for prior repair on your car so its worth less money than Kelly Blue Book

·       NADA on your vehicle is…

If any of these phrases sounds familiar, you need to call me before you settle your auto claim for less money than you’re due. Last week, I helped a client with a 1995 BMW increase his auto claim by $13,000.  Progressive insisted Kelly Blue Book and NADA valued his car at $10,000. He did the smart thing and called me for help. I instructed the customer to invoke his policy’s “appraisal” clause and then I went to work for him. Auto Appraisal Network - Detroit wrote a Prior-to-Loss appraisal and negotiated with Progressive insurance for a total settlement of $23,000.

You need a professional appraiser to represent you during your insurance settlement. Contact me for a “no charge” initial review of your total loss settlement. Don’t be average!