Hyundai Lease Total Loss—Need Advice on Insurance Payment
Hey everyone! A couple of months ago, my mom was involved in a car accident that wasn’t her fault, and unfortunately, her leased Hyundai Ioniq 5 was totaled. We just received a letter from Hyundai stating that she needs to pay $1,000 due to the terms of the lease contract.
The issue is that the car was valued at $35,800 according to their letter, but they only paid out $34,800, leaving her responsible for the $1,000 deductible. Given the circumstances, I have a few questions:
- Since she wasn’t at fault, can we contact State Farm to see if they will cover the deductible?
- The car was under the mileage limit and in perfect condition before the accident—does that affect our situation?
Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
I’m sorry to hear about your mom’s situation. Here are a few steps you can take to address the issue:
Contact State Farm: Reach out to State Farm as soon as possible. Explain the situation, emphasizing that your mom wasn’t at fault and that she had a valid lease agreement. Ask them to clarify why the settlement amount was less than expected and if they can assist in covering the additional $1,000.
Review the Lease Agreement: Check the lease contract for details on what happens in the event of a total loss. There may be specific clauses related to the insurance payout and potential liabilities your mom might face.
Communicate with Hyundai: Contact Hyundai’s customer service or the department that sent the letter. Explain your mom’s situation and ask if there’s any opportunity to negotiate or clarify the additional charge.
Gather Documentation: Make sure to collect all relevant documents, including the lease agreement, insurance policy details, accident report, and any correspondence with Hyundai and State Farm. This will help support your case when discussing matters with either party.
Consider Legal Advice: If the situation does not resolve through communication with State Farm and Hyundai, you may want to consider seeking legal advice. An attorney specializing in automotive or insurance law could provide guidance on how to proceed.
File a Claim with the Other Driver’s Insurance: If the other driver was at fault, ensure that their insurance is covering damages appropriately. You might be able to recover some of the costs through their policy.
Make sure to keep a record of all communications and any actions taken along the way. Good luck, and I hope the situation resolves in your mom’s favor!