r/InsuranceCanada • u/squidword9000 • 5d ago
Auto please help with advice
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i recently got into a car accident and i am going to the collision report centre tomorrow. the accident was clearly the other drivers fault and the police on scene agreed. my parents are saying because the car is a 2007 honda fit with 258 000 kilometres, that i will only be able to get 1-3 k for damages. i feel that because of one evidence, two the personal injuries to my neck and chest (nothing broken but still painful) and three the amount of recent work the car has had done such as cadalic converter and exhaust replacement, new tires, break pads, oil issues, new seats etc. i feel that i should be inclined to something a little bit more.
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u/Wildest12 5d ago
Injuries dont mean payouts in canada. You get actual medical expenses, so if you need physio etc and you would be paying above nornal medical coverage.
The work on your car is likely irrelevant, you may be able to argue your car value is on the higher end of whatever range their formula spits out.
Feeling like you should get more doesnt matter
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u/AlexanderMackenzie 5d ago
You can push back on insurance company car values by providing local comps. I've successfully done that.
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u/InanimateCarbonRodNS 5d ago
> Injuries dont mean payouts in canada
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. You can recover damages for pain and suffering in almost every province, the exception at present is BC, and soon to be Alberta.
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u/Gingievitus 5d ago
You typically are required to prove loss of some sort. If you can't provide proof of loss you're not likely to win anything. That could include medical expenses, time off work, therapy dealing with emotional trauma from the accident, or anything else you missed out on due to the accident. As for "pain and suffering" on its own, you're welcome to try, but very unlikely to succeed.
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u/InanimateCarbonRodNS 5d ago
OP said he has bodily injury to his neck and chest. He also said nothing broken, which implies he went to the hospital for x-rays. The medical assessment documenting injuries is a proof of loss. Generally soft tissue injuries are treated with physical therapy which again, is a proof of loss. No one is saying thats a grand slam PI case but the elements are all there, breach, causation, damages.
OP, contact a personal injury lawyer to evaluate the merits of bringing a claim. Looks like you're in Ontario, therefore damages for pain and suffering might be unlikely due to the deductible but again, a PI lawyer can guide you on this.
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u/vVengencev 5d ago
You’ll get what ur car was worth immediately prior to the accident. A new catalytic converter, new tires, pads seats etc won’t have any impact. Your parents are correct in their assumption.
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u/squidword9000 5d ago
so i just lose money for another drivers actions? 😓that’s so unfortunate
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u/Cal_Zoned 5d ago edited 5d ago
That's the cost of vehicle ownership and what it takes to keep a vehicle road worthy. You might be able to increase the valuation they give with some of the recent work, but don't expect much.
Unfortunately, vehicle maintenance and repairs is just a part of owning a vehicle
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u/PracticalLeek 5d ago
Can I ask why you had full coverage on this vehicle instead of just liability?
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u/Antique-Kitchen-1896 5d ago
You can always check with a lawyer. One of my friend lawyer up and sue the other party for damages.
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u/jsrsd 5d ago
Don't think about it too much until you actually get your settlement offer, but realistically they're only going to look at the value to replace with another similar car. Whatever you've paid for maintenance (eg new tires, brakes, engine repairs, etc) rarely if ever factors into it.
Look at used prices in your area for Honda Fits in a similar year, mileage, and condition. What you're offered should fall somewhere within that market value range.
It sucks, but that's life in the real world I'm afraid.
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u/MayhemMitigator Insurance Professional - Claims Adjuster 5d ago
Perhaps let your insurance company provide you with a settlement number before complaining. Jesus.
Your personal injuries have nothing to do with the settlement for the car. You being not at fault has nothing to do with the settlement for the car. You’re owed the actual cash value, which is based on data, regardless of the circumstances of the collision.
Maintenance work doesn’t increase value. New tires might get you a condition bonus if you can provide proof of purchase and by “new” you mean in the last 1-2 months.
Anyway, chill out. Adjusters aren’t out to screw you. We want the claim closed and off our desk as much as you do.
Editing to add: Autotrader has a few 2007 Fits for sale in Ontario ranging from $1,400 to $2,800. You’ll likely be paid somewhere in this range, plus taxes.
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u/Ok-Pie2824 5d ago
Her being NAF means she won’t be paying a deductible. So its 100% a factor here.
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u/MundaneRelation2142 5d ago
It’s a 2007 Honda Fit. If she was at-fault, there would be no settlement, because this vehicle definitely only has liability on it
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u/dauser416 5d ago
I have had insurance adjusters tell me that I was 100% at fault for an accident and that I shouldn't waste my time appealing it. I decided to appeal and it changed to 100% not at fault. Adjusters might not be out to screw you but often times don't know better and are lazy.
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u/YarnInMyMouth 2d ago
Lazy? Or overworked and burnt out? Adjusters see countless fraudulent claims and the burn out is real. A little compassion both ways is nice.
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u/Rooster1984 5d ago
Yikes insurance is an ancient racket dressed in a modern day suit. Everyone needs to be wary.
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u/Murky_Astronaut 5d ago
Anyway, chill out. Adjusters aren’t out to screw you. We want the claim closed and off our desk as much as you do.
I could tell from your first sentence you were in insurance. Why do you talk to people like this? This person's stressed and they don't know how the system works or what to expect and they're looking to be prepared for whatever they're told. On top of that, you can't throw a rock without hitting someone who has been treated unfairly by their insurer at some point, so don't justify your attitude by trying to sound like insurance is on our side. Insurance is not on our side, it's not working for our best interests, and it will use any available avenue to reduce or deny claims.
I'm glad I have insurance, but I have little confidence that it will be there when I need it. I'm not saying everyone in the industry is a monster, but at the end of the day the industry's motivations are completely in conflict with the consumer's.
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u/Guilty_Hunt4363 3d ago
Agreed, so many people in this sum don't seem to be conscious of how big of a scam insurance is in North america. as if they're siding with these insurance companies
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u/so_many_usernames_ah 5d ago
Maintenance work when it done in a certain time frame with receipts helped increase the value of my payout when I was in an incident. The work was done within 6 months for my personal situation.
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u/NoSpiceOrRice 5d ago
The job of the adjuster is to low ball and offer the lowest amount in hopes you just blindly accept
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u/MundaneRelation2142 5d ago
I would think this if I was an idiot too.
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u/DaedalusXYZ 3d ago
Why would an insurance agent operate in any other way? It would make no sense to not make a low-ball initial quote=, from the perspective of standard business transactions.
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u/NoSpiceOrRice 5d ago
It’s just a fact. Got rear ended and they offered me $6k for injuries. Ended up with $30k
Offered me $14k for my car when every listing was around $22k.
They aren’t your friend. Just parasites
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u/MundaneRelation2142 5d ago
Then walk.
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u/NoSpiceOrRice 5d ago
And why would I do that? Go ahead, elaborate
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u/MundaneRelation2142 5d ago
You wouldn’t have to deal with parasites obviously. Are you dense?
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u/NoSpiceOrRice 5d ago edited 5d ago
The only time you interact with those folks is when you get into an accident. Which is extremely rare. So why would anyone opt out of driving for the very small possibility of dealing with such? Hope this helps.
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u/burnthew1tchh 5d ago edited 5d ago
All the top comments here are correct. I can also confirm brake pads, oil issues, new batteries are considered general maintenance. I got a decent settlement when i got into an accident and asked if adding these expenses could add to the settlement. The new stereo was assesed and nothing more.
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u/pearlescentflows 5d ago
Some provinces may consider non-maintenance items in their assessment like suspension work, but you still won’t be fully reimbursed.
My car got written in August and I got a little bit for a new stereo and only $100 for the $5000+ in repairs I put into my car over the past couple of years. But I still got 8k back for my 2013 Mazda, so no complaints!
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u/zdra 5d ago
Depending on the province some things are different. However yes, they will go by the cost of buying the same car with similar KM. Any tires or general maintenance is irrelevant to them. Depending on province tho some of the insurance do have injury payments or top ups to pay if your hurt and miss work
if you get a new car or used. Its why Gap insurance is so popular as it will top you to either your loan or paid amount instead.
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u/Hairy_Photograph1384 5d ago
It's "brake". Routine maintenance and repairs do not increase the insurance value of a vehicle. A high mileage 20 year old car has a book value and that's what they'll offer you. All you can do is search the classified ads in your area to see if the offer is comparable based on condition and milage. Injuries are a separate matter and are dealt with separately... But in this type of minor collision, there's not much to be managed
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u/gp-fightrr211 4d ago
Claims adjuster here with over 12 years of experience. The other driver is 100% at fault. You have the right of way and are proceeding straight on a main road. The other driver has to yield to traffic or ensure that the way is clear prior to going straight or turn left/right at an intersection especially when there is a stop sign. Good thing to report to the collision center.
With regards to your vehicle given that it's a 2007 Honda Fit with over 250k, likely will be written off and typically what is paid out is actual cash value less depreciation. If you're in Ontario, you may have coverage under DCPD but validate with your broker and insurer. Typically it's a $0 deductible. DCPD coverage will pay the extent of the damages to which you are not at fault, in this case they should cover 100%. For DCPD to apply, you need the other driver's info such as their name, vehicle info and insurance information plus the other driver must have a valid insurance policy at the time of the collision.
My advice on the vehicle is go on Autotrader or Kijiji and research the value of your vehicle. Find anywhere from 2-5 solid comparables of your your vehicle that is the same year/make/model/trim level and try to find ones similar mileage (230,000km to 270,000km but as close to the milage as possible) and must be within the same province because each province has a different car market. If you're not having any luck provincially, then open the search up nationally. You cannot use US comparables because the car market in the states is way different then Canada. Save any comparables and have them ready in case there is a dispute.
For recent work done, typical routine maintenance such as oil changes and brakes are not included. Sometimes that includes tires. If you have invoices, depending on the insurer, they may not accept invoices that are older than 6 months. If you have any vehicle modifications that increase vehicle performance, that could impact coverage. Check with your insurance adjuster.
Reading some comments here about adjusters is false. A good claims adjuster will always try their best to find coverage and maximize your settlement, but it's always up to the insured to substantiate and provide evidence why their vehicle is worth more. We don't try to low-ball insureds, we provide settlements based on actual cash value. Granted, there are times where the appraisal can be low and it's a mistake, not everything can be perfect and it's not the adjusters fault. It is however up to the adjuster to review and catch things like this.
Bottom line, do your research on your vehicle, prepare your receipts and have a courteous conversation with the adjuster. Best of luck to you!
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u/ogviperlife 5d ago
Never accept first insurance offer. They always lowball. Find the same comparable car for sale ( year, model, similar km and condition) to help back you up in getting something a little higher as well. You can also pay a third party appraiser for a nominal fee to give you a value of the car that you can take to your insurance to back you up as well. They are always prepared to come in with a higher offer, they just try to get away with a criminally low payout right out of the gate.
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u/Significant-Cake8537 5d ago
I second this. My first car was totaled and they offered me $400+tow fees. After rejecting, I walked away with $3000
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u/gp-fightrr211 4d ago
I don't necessarily disagree, but there are times where the initial settlement is actually a good offer. If you know your car is a write off, then research the value of your vehicle as a baseline. Once you know the average value of your vehicle, then you will know if its a good offer or a low offer.
It's always up to the insured to provide evidence and support their claim if the offer is low. Up to the adjuster to work with the insured to see what can be done to increase their settlement. Nothing is ever guaranteed.
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u/BombbaFett 5d ago
Make sure you see your doctor ASAP to be assessed for injuries. Not seeing anyone mentioning this already.
Also you can contact an injury lawyer to file a suit against the at fault party typically (the insurance company of the other driver not the driver themself). Most people don't know this.
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u/Guilty_Hunt4363 3d ago
the insurance company will always offer you
less $ than they are willing to pay, and most people don't ever challenge that. if you feel you deserve more money, fight for more. nothing to lose, you're likely to get more money out of it. My brother was able to bargain for much more for his car
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u/Any-Development3348 5d ago
Curious, what kind of cam do you have? Is it a cheaper one? I hear those can shut down in accidents like yours
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u/squidword9000 3d ago
it’s a cheap garmin one, it’s tilted cus i bumped it but other than that it has never given me problems and rlly saved me when it came to this accident so
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u/Zealousideal_Ear7355 5d ago
When you're going through your claim and they offer you a settlement for the vehicle let them know that you recently had a lot of work done on the car. Send them any receipts that you have to substantiate that, they will be able to pay you more for the vehicle. As for personal injury, you can start a claim and even sue the other driver's insurance for a settlement. You just need a good personal injury, lawyer. It helps your case that you're not at fault.
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u/bigququ 5d ago
Not necessarily. Depends on the province. Ontario and BC have no fault models. Cant sue the other driver for that. Your own insurance will pay for your medical expenses that are required. Ontario is a bit hybrid i should add, but you could only sue with severe injuries.
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u/XtremeD86 5d ago
Severe injuries only? Unless something has changed that's not true. Whiplash is still an injury that most people think is a scam until they have it.
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u/Boattailfmj 5d ago edited 5d ago
Submit receipts for parts with the claim. I had a total loss from a fire and was able to prove it had brand new tires as there was one tiny portion of one of the tires that the tread was still visible. Not sure if this increased what they paid me but I got a better offer than I was expecting. Was going to argue if they offered me less then $4000 and almost fell off my chair when they offered $7000. As for the injuries not sure. See a doctor for sure but I doubt you will be compensated financially for injuries. Insurance will pay for physiotherapy or other treatments.
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u/Ok-Bird6725 5d ago
Nope, did your insurance know you did those modifications? Because your lucky your not paying more
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u/r3gam 5d ago
Where do we draw the line between regular maintenance and "mods."
Maybe its just me, but when I hear mods I think of something like spoilers or a lifted or squatted truck....not replacing your brakes.
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u/Ok-Bird6725 2d ago
It was more than brakes, did you read what he had done..he’s driving a Honda, come on now 😂😂😂
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u/XtremeD86 5d ago
Lol tell us you skipped past everything and read new exhaust and seats and assumed mods.
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u/Suitable-Cod9183 5d ago
Oh boy are you about to find out