Legal Question in Personal Injury in Washington

Re: shall i ? or not? accept their offer...

Hi, Carrie:

As is often the case, it may be advised that you utilize the services of an attorney, especially if you car is, as you say, "totaled". However, each case may be different. With the Law of Torts, where a car accident has occurred, duty, breach, causation, and damages may be reviewed to determine fault. With respect to the actual payment, whether or not you should or should not accept it, an attorney may be able to advise you accordingly.

Thank you.

Respectfully.

Re: shall i ? or not? accept their offer...

I suggest that you consult the Blue Book online to get the value of your vehicle and try to decide whether the insurance company is offering you a fair settlement.

Generally, you either settle or you don't. If you accept a check, the insurance company will want you to sign a settlement agreement that basically says that that is the end of it, and you can't pursue the matter further.

If the vehicle was newer and nicer, you may be able to get the insurance company to find you a comparable replacement vehicle. This saves you all the time and expense in having to do so yourself. For example, I know someone who totalled his car, and it was his fault. His insurance company bought him an identical vehicle which happened to have fewer miles on it - so he actually came out ahead.

Attorneys don't usually become involved in this kind of matter unless you're willing to pay an hourly fee.