Total Loss from Two Separate Claims?
I’ve recently been involved in two accidents where the other party was found to be 100% at fault, and both are insured by Geico. I haven’t had the damage from the first accident fixed yet, and I’m planning to repair both damages at the same shop.
My question is: if the combined claims amount to 70% of my car’s value, will Geico categorize it as a total loss? Or do they assess each claim independently? For example, if one claim is 40% of the car’s value and the other is 45%, would they pay out 85% of the car’s total value?
When dealing with multiple claims and potential total loss scenarios, insurance companies like Geico typically assess each claim separately, especially when looking at the percentage of damage relative to the vehicle’s value.
In your case, if you’ve had two accidents and the total damage from both claims is 70% of your car’s market value, Geico may assess the situation to determine if they consider it a total loss. However, they will likely analyze each claim independently, where one claim is 40% and the other is 45%.
If the individual damages do not independently reach the threshold for a total loss (often around 70-80% depending on state guidelines and the policy), they may not declare your vehicle a total loss. Instead, they might payout each claim based on the percentage of damage.
It’s best to communicate directly with Geico about your specific situation. They can provide detailed information on how they handle multiple claims and total loss assessments. Make sure to keep all your documentation and estimates to support your claims process.