In a Car Accident? What to Do Next

What to do after a car accident 

It's no fun to have to file car accident claims. They can seem complicated and unnecessarily confusing. We’re here to help. Here are a few tips to help you come out ahead after an accident. You have a lot of options to consider, but first and foremost you have to settle your insurance claims. After your insurance settlement claims are, well, settled, you can check how much you can sell your accident damaged car for online.

Car Accident Insurance Claim Settlement Tips

1. Work with your insurance adjuster, not against them.

   Don't treat them like the enemy. While they do work for the insurance company and want to pay out as little as possible, they also have to uphold the reputation of the company and a certain level of customer satisfaction. So, as long as you’re working with a reputable company they’ll treat you fairly and work with you unless you are rude or hostile. If the adjuster needs additional information to justify certain aspects of the claim, be forthcoming with information for the best outcome.

2. Get an estimate.

   Your insurance adjuster will evaluate the car and provide an estimate of the damage. They’ll write up a thorough damage estimate for you and break it down so you have an idea of individual costs. If they determine the damage exceeds a predetermined percentage of the car's value right before the accident, then they will declare the car totaled - or a total loss.
   
   The damage threshold is typically around 70 to 75-percent, but it varies by state and insurance company. It’s not a bad idea to get another repair estimate from a body shop to compare to the insurance adjuster’s.

3. Find out how much the company will give you if you opt to not repair your car.

   Unless your car is a lease, you may not have to have the car repaired. The insurance company can still give you a settlement check. You can even keep your car if they declare it a total loss in a process called owner retention. This check can easily be thousands of dollars.

4. Find out the depreciated value of your car.

   As soon as your car leaves the car lot, it begins to depreciate. Depreciated value is how much a person would be willing to pay for your car after you have put miles and some wear and tear on it. The longer you own it, the more it goes down. Your car depreciates because the parts are getting older and more worn out. Sooner or later, major repairs, like timing belts and fuel injectors, will be needed.

   Your car’s depreciated value is likely on your estimate. This amount is important because this is how much you would supposedly spend if you wanted to "buy" another car just like it. You need to know this even if you would not buy the same car again. You might be able to get more for your damaged vehicle than you think

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5. Negotiate.

   The key to a successful negotiation is knowledge. Know what your car is worth and know your policy inside and out. If the adjuster is lowballing you a little, state the facts based on your research in a civil way.

6. Evaluate your options.

   Based on the depreciated value of your car, is it really worth it to get it repaired? Even a car with a great repair job, your car will always have a big red mark on its vehicle history report. Repaired cars can lose up to 30-percet of their value after an accident, no matter how good the repair. Frame damage can happen during an accident which can never really be repaired.

7. Fix it or sell it?

   After an accident, your best option might be to keep the insurance money and sell your damaged car. By putting those two sums together, you can go buy a new car. Don’t jump right to repairs. Evaluate your options of whether you should fix your car or sell it as is.

8. Settle your auto loan.

   If you have an auto loan, remember that you can't sell your car until you've paid it off.

9. Submit your car info to CarBrain.

   It's usually hard to sell a damaged car. You have to put up a listing and work with lots of people before you find the right buyer. But, with CarBrain, you can just click the button below and answer some questions about your car to get a guaranteed, no-obligation online offer. Use this offer and the sum of your insurance check to decide to fix your car or sell it.

10. Make a decision.

    What is the right choice for you? Do you want to repair the car? Or, should you sell your car to CarBrain? The choice is yours.

Can I Sell a Wrecked Car for Cash?

Once your insurance settlement is out of the way, can you keep your car and sell your crashed car for cash? Yes, you can. You can sell a car after an accident and make more money towards your new vehicle, or whatever else you may be saving for. 

We give fair market offers for cars in any conditionm, and buy wrecked cars every day. Because of this, we know the true value of your accident damaged vehicle.

Selling a Car Damaged from an Accident

If your car repairs after an accident are too much, and selling your car is the better option, check our fair market offer for your damaged car. Our online car buying process is simple, and you can get a reliable quote in less than 2 minutes. Get your guaranteed offer now, from CarBrain, the smart way to sell your car.