Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
If you filed a total loss claim after a car accident, you may not have received all of the compensation you should have. In some states, insurance companies are expected to cover costs beyond just the fair market value of the car, but in some cases, they don’t.
Car accident fees and charges can pile up quickly, and policyholders should be assured that they will receive compensation to cover them.
In 2015, J.D. Power conducted a study into the vehicle total loss process, noting that severe claims including total loss car claims were on the rise. This finding was coupled with the fact that severe claims had an effect on policyholders’ satisfaction with the vehicle total loss process as a whole.
Now, lawyers are launching an investigation into cases where insurance companies failed to pay additional costs like taxes and fees to their policyholders whose vehicles were a total loss.
About Total Loss Car Accident Claims
Total loss car accident claims are insurance claims made after a vehicle was totaled. The term “totaled” refers to a car that has been so damaged in an accident that the value of the car itself is less than what it would cost to repair the damage, according to Value Penguin.
Whether or not a car was totaled is determined by the insurance adjuster. In many cases, a policyholder is then given the fair market value of the car after they file a successful claim.
However, other costs associated with totaling a car and then acquiring a new car are not always covered. Some other fees that a policyholder may incur during the vehicle total loss process are sales tax, title transfer fees, tag transfer fees, and more. Injuries and lawsuits are a completely different matter.
As they are expenses incurred as a result of an accident, in the case of many policies, they may be covered under a total loss claim. However, some insurance policies may only cover the fair market value of the car, even though state law may require them to cover more. Consumers may not be getting all they’re owed after a total loss car accident.
Total Loss Car Accident Lawsuits
GEICO and State Farm are two car insurance companies that have been accused of short-changing policyholders. Some policyholders have taken action and have filed lawsuits against their insurance providers for allegedly not compensating them for additional costs related to a totaled vehicle.
In a total loss lawsuit against GEICO, policy holders argued that fees beyond the fair market value of the car are included in the “actual cash value” covered by the policy.
To support their argument, the policyholders who field the GEICO total loss lawsuit argued that expenses like sales tax and title fees are unavoidable to customers who go through the vehicle total loss process and therefore should be covered.
Join a Free Total Loss Car Accident Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you were insured under an auto insurance policy, experienced a total loss car accident, and were not reimbursed for sales tax and other fees by your insurance company in the last 5 years, you may qualify to join a total loss car accident class action lawsuit investigation.
This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
69 thoughts onWere You Fairly Compensated in the Vehicle Total Loss Process?
State Farm paid off my Buick Enclave but low balled the payment to where I couldn’t finance another one.
Please add me
Yes, I’ve been in a few totaled car wrecks with Geico as my insurance carrier
Yes, I have a had a few accidents where I was hit and State Farm was involved and two others but I do not remember the insurance companies names but it happened on the same vehicle Include me in.
My accident happened in 2020. Girl backed into my car breaking the front rebar. Geico totaled out my car. I had just replaced 2 cadillatic converters, and had transmission work done, and had just registered the vehicle in my name. They only paid me for the price of the vehicle. 1 week prior to the accident i had paid for 3 smog checks in order to get the car registered paying close to $500 total in smog check fees.
We just had a vehicle accident. Car was a total loss. GEICO’s determination of the car value did not account for all of the fees, charges and taxes we will have to pay when we buy a new car. Please add me.
Total loss claim in 2016 with State farm. I also had gap insurance which was never added. Eventually Gap did not pay and it was reported to the credit bureau.
Me and my boyfriend had a new mazda SUV geico claimed it was totaled still winded up paying taxes and fees I’m sure happen roughly a year ago I take care of a paper work and business of this matter could someone please get in touch with me
Yes, my Car was Total
My 2017 Altima Nissan was totaled last year 2019 someone ran into my parked car while at work. It was totaled I am so upset it left me without a car nobody paid me nothing or reacted at to help me I mean I had just started a new job even gap didnt pay the car off. Please help me I am so upset about the situation I felt like it was my fault and I was at work when all this happened. I am with GEICO. The person that ran into me was with progressive. That never call me back when I left messages.