Car Accident Property Damage How-to Guide: Can I Keep My Totaled Car?

The Car Accident Property Damage: How-to Guide is a comprehensive video series created by Andrew Kryder, Chicago car accident attorney and founding partner of The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers.

How the How-to Guide Can Help You

This invaluable resource is designed to assist individuals who have experienced non-injury car accidents that damaged their vehicle.

It covers an array of topics, such as understanding your rights as a car owner, navigating insurance claims, and options when your car is declared a total loss. The guide demystifies complex legal jargon and procedures, making it a user-friendly tool for managing the post-accident process and making informed decisions independently.

When the Insurance Company Determines the Car Is Totaled

Andy begins, “Another question that comes up frequently when your car has been ruled a total loss is, ‘Can I keep it?'”

“And the answer: maybe.”

Car Insurance Companies Consider the Age of the Totaled Vehicle

When the insurance company declares your car a total loss, the actual cash value of the vehicle and the resale value of the vehicle don’t determine whether you can keep it or it becomes a salvage vehicle.

Other factors come into play.

“If the car is 9 years old or older,” he continues, “you can elect to keep the vehicle.”

“If it’s younger than that—sorry, you’re out of luck. The insurance company makes it a total loss, you sign over the title, and the car gets hauled away.”