Car Totaled with an Open Claim
Unfortunately, my child totaled my car this week. Interestingly, this same car was involved in an accident two years ago, and my insurance company wanted to issue a check for $3,400. I chose to repair it myself instead. I’ve been informed by Progressive that since my state allows for a three-year window to reopen a claim, I may still be eligible for that payment.
Can I pursue both the old claim and the one for the totaled car? I have receipts for the repairs I made prior to the two accidents.
Before the recent incident, Progressive mentioned that I didn’t need to provide proof for them to process a payout.
Also, regarding the accident from two years ago, when does the clock start in terms of whether it affects my insurance rates—does it start today, or from the date of the accident? Progressive offers accident forgiveness for claims under $500, so that particular incident didn’t impact my rates. No payment was made to the other driver as it was deemed a 50/50 situation.
I’m really sorry to hear about your car being totaled. It sounds like a tough situation with a lot of moving parts. From what you’ve shared, it seems you might have a few avenues to explore:
Old Claim: Since your state allows you to reopen claims within three years, it’s worth reaching out to Progressive to discuss the possibility of collecting on that old claim. Make sure to provide them with the receipts and documentation of the repairs you made. They may need this to assess the claim properly.
New Totaled Vehicle Claim: It sounds like Progressive is prepared to pay you for the totaled car without requiring proof based on their statement. You should definitely follow up with them to ensure you understand the procedures and any documentation they might need moving forward.
Impact on Rates: Typically, insurance companies consider the date of the accident when determining whether it affects your rates – not when the claim is paid out. However, since you mentioned Progressive’s accident forgiveness policy, that could potentially mitigate any impact on your rates, especially if the previous accident was under the claim threshold.
Ultimately, I recommend contacting your insurance agent to discuss all these details thoroughly. They can provide specific instructions based on your policy and state laws. Good luck, and I hope everything gets sorted out!