When the airbags in your vehicle deploy, it is supposed to protect you from catastrophic or fatal injuries. Unfortunately, airbag deployment could also total your vehicle, depending on the type of collision you were involved in, the age, make, and model of your vehicle, and other factors. Airbag deployment does not necessarily mean your vehicle will be totaled, but it could have an impact on how much compensation you can recover in property damages and other losses.
Fortunately, you have a highly experienced California car accident lawyer from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys advocating for your rights, you can feel confident in your ability to maximize your settlement. Here is more about whether your car will be totaled when airbags deploy and what to expect from your insurance and civil claims.
What “Totaled” Means in Insurance Terms
A car is generally considered “totaled” when it is more expensive to fix than the car is worth. However, a car can also be considered totaled when it is beyond repair. This is also commonly referred to as a total loss.
If the vehicle cannot be repaired because it will not meet the necessary safety standards, the repair costs are more than the car’s cash value, or the damage compromises the vehicle’s structural integrity, it is more likely that the insurance company will consider the vehicle totaled.
The specific circumstances of your case will determine what happens if your vehicle is totaled. If you are leasing or financing the car, you will still be expected to pay off the value of your loan. Hopefully, you have guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance in place to protect you. Alternatively, you may be entitled to receive reimbursement for the actual cash value of your vehicle through an insurance settlement.
Factors that Determine Whether a Vehicle is Totaled
Multiple factors will be taken into consideration when determining whether the insurance company considers your vehicle totaled. Some of these factors include:
- Age of the vehicle
- Cost of repairs
- The severity of the vehicle’s damage
- The actual cash value of the car
The insurance company may compensate you for the value of the vehicle minus your deductible. If you have remaining damages the insurance company does not cover, you may be able to recoup these losses by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party in court.
The Insurance Process After Airbag Deployment
When the airbags deploy in a motor vehicle accident, the insurance company will need to determine the extent of the damage to the vehicle. They need to examine not only the deployed airbags but also any structural issues the vehicle might have suffered in the accident.
Once the insurance company has determined the fair market value (FMV) of your vehicle pre-accident, they will evaluate how much it will cost to repair the vehicle. If the cost of repairs is going to be more than the car’s pre-accident value, the insurance company may consider the vehicle totaled. If the vehicle is not totaled, the insurance company and liable party should be expected to cover the repair costs. Lastly, if the vehicle is totaled, the insurance company will need to compensate you accordingly.
What to Do After the Airbags Deploy
If you are involved in a car accident and the airbags deploy, you should:
- Check yourself and your passengers for serious injuries
- Call 911 and emergency responders for help
- Speak with responding officers to ensure a police report is filed
- Move yourselves and the vehicles to a safer location if possible
- Start to document the damage at the accident scene
- Ask witnesses for their contact information
- Get medical attention, even if you believe your injuries are minor
- Hire a California catastrophic injury lawyer to represent you and protect your rights
Get Help From a Distinguished California Car Accident Lawyer Today
Understanding how the car accident insurance claims process works is going to be invaluable as you start to prepare for what is to come. Although you might have believed your vehicle was totaled, if the insurance company says otherwise, it could profoundly impact your insurance settlement.
Even if your vehicle is not considered totaled after the accident, you can still recoup the full value of your damages through a combination of insurance and personal injury claims. Learn more about how you can get the most out of your car accident claim after airbag deployment when you contact a leading California personal injury lawyer from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys for a no-cost, risk-free consultation. Reach us through our online contact form or by phone to get started on your case as soon as today.
