How do I prove the value of my truck or car after an accident? It's a total loss.

For good advice see a lawyer and if you have questions about this blog, the law or your case write or call me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. I handle all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers' compensation cases. We help truckers all across the country who come through Iowa and end up in an accident. If we need other lawyers from other states we hire them and it costs you no more than what you would pay us; in other words, we split the fee between us. So call 515-222-1110 or email us at sdlombardi@aol.com.
Steve Lombardi, Attorney

There are several ways you can prove car, truck or motorcycle value following a car accident. It's not as easy or straightforward as just saying you want so much money for it. To assist you and the insurance adjuster in arriving at a value that is fair you will need several documents.

Documentation
1. A copy of the title. (Is the title clean or a branded or junk title?)
2. A copy of the purchase agreement. (What is the value when first purchased and how long have you owned it?)
3. The Bill of Sale.
4. The registration certificate.
5. Receipts for any additional and major renovation work you've had done to it since purchasing it.
6. Receipts for any after-market add-ons or things like new tires or major engine repairs.
7. A letter or two from a dealer saying what they think the vehicles value was just prior to the collision.
8. A letter from the owner saying what he/she thinks is the value of the vehicle.
9. Photographs of the car or truck or motorcycle prior to the crash or accident. Of course photographs taken closer to the accident date that show a clean and undamaged vehicle help and those showing the vehicle not so clean or damaged do not.
10. Damage repair estimates showing previous repair work can help but they will probably hurt or lower the valuation. Let's face it, a previously damaged car that is wrecked a second time isn't going to be a car everyone wants to buy.
11. Go online to the Internet and find examples of cars, trucks and motorcycles of the same year, make, model and condition and see what the owners are asking for a sale's price. Print these off or save them to a folder on your computer. Use the highest valuations as examples of what other owners think their vehicles are worth.
Assemble all of these things, then read them and ask yourself is this car worth what I think it is worth? If there is previous damage how does it affect the value? Just because it ran doesn't mean it's going to be worth what you paid for it. This is just a start because valuing a total loss isn't easy - it will be a negotiated process. So be patient and think through your position before you pick up the phone to call the adjuster.
If we can be of assistance call us. Iowa personal injury accidents call the Lombardi Law Firm. www.lombardilaw.com or sdlombardi@aol.com. 515-222-1110.

As a service to our clients living outside of Iowa we provide this list of crash reports from the Iowa State Patrol. We understand the difficulty our clients from out of state have in resolving a car, motorcycle, SUV, semi or truck accident case from outside of Iowa. We are here to assist you. If you have had an accident in Iowa but live in another state please give us a call and we will provide whatever services are needed to assist concluding your insurance settlement. 515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com. Our website is www.lombardilaw.com. We look forward to hearing from you. See also the Iowa Edict .
Steve Lombardi, Attorney

If you or an interested person are in a collision and you would like the crash analyzed you'll need to contact Attorney Lombardi. This may or may not result in an attorney-client relationship and simply asking for a review does not in and of itself create such a relationship. If you ask and Mr. Lombardi thinks you have a case he will say so and provide an agreement for representation that then creates an attorney-client relationship. The bottom line is that Mr. Lombardi has to agree to take you on as a client; the first step of course is asking him. You've got two ways: telephone 515-222-1110 or email sent to sdlombardi@aol.com.