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Auto Insurance Claims/previously salvaged title

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Expert: - 1/27/2011


Question
I currently live in Nebraska. I was driving a 1998 volkswagen golf gti vr6. I was rear ended and hit a suv in front of me. Insurance company is stating it is a total loss because it was $4000 in dmage. It  only has 110,000. It has a previosly salvaged title. They offered me 3627 for the car and deducted 1000 for the title, anotherr 560 for the rust, the clear coat and the interior. And then told me if I wanted to buy it back it would cost me another 500. Can you help me on this. thanks.

Answer
Hello,

I am not sure as to how I can help you. Salvage title brings value down, up to 40% compared to a clear title. There is not much you can do on negotiation. Their deduction for rust goes to the overall value of the vehicle and it sounds like the interior is rough too.

You are not going to get more money. People rarely make out in car accidents. Yeah I know, the rust damage is worse.

People don't understand, when the car is branded, you can't negotiate with any of the calculations.

You state only 110,000 miles. Those are hard miles with extreme temperatures and road salt that rots any aluminum on the engine, everything on the suspension has to be removed with a torch. I know. I am from Wisconsin. 110,000 miles there means it's pretty used up.

I am now in Texas where 300,000 miles is common and because they use no road salt, there is no rust.

As I said, I don't know how I could help you with the salvage on the title. They could have deducted more.


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Rob Painter, Ase, CFEI, CAFATE

Expertise

Please remember. I am not an attorney and cannot legal advice. My answers are based on my experience due to litigation I have been involved in as an expert, for both insurance companies and while oposing them opposing them. I deal with only comprehensive claims on autos related to fire and theft. I have even had the opportunity to rewrite policy coverage language as it relates to vehicle theft and forced entry for insurance defense attorneys.

Experience

Experience in the area: Working with insurance companies and attorneys on these issues for over 20 years. It is very common to have a reported stolen car with a so-called factory anti-theft system to have the theft claim denied. I have served successfully as an expert witness in the courts across the US representing the insured and their attorney revealing that the insurance expert did not take all known theories into consideration before rendering their "Forensic" conclusion. Many insurance carriers us independent "Forensic" experts to examine reported stolen vehicles commonly using flawed methodology implicating the innocent insured with the theft. My job is to determine if the insurance expert reached his conclusions based on accepted scientific principals or just net opinion with no basis other than opinion. My case record against such experts is very compelling.My resume can be seen at the catagory "Auto Theft and Prevention." In "Forensics" the scientific method must be employed. In the forensic locksmith field determining how a reported stolen vehicle was last operated, many processes cannot be duplicated and are conveniently not addressed. If they were, juries would have the opportunity to make a fair and impartial opinion at least about what the expert could or could not prove. There is a purported process determining the last key used. The chances of determining such is very rare uless the key is found in the ignition lock. Experts commonly destroy evidence as well and are rarely questioned on this event. I reveal the weakness in their testimony on such instances.

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