Vehicle insurance: What's a total loss (crash)

[J D Sauser]

I'd need to know if there are any government guidelines in the DR which would stipulate what is a total loss when it comes to crashed vehicles.
What can legally be acceptable as fixable, what not.

Also, any lawyer specialized in defending the driver/owner against his own insurance (full)?

Thanks! ... J-D.

[Rocky]

Aye aye aye.
Please don't tell us you just crashed the car........

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Rocky

Aye aye aye.
Please don't tell us you just crashed the car........

No, I didn't crash it... but IT sure GOT crashed real good... just Friday in the same week we had it finished repainted (great job by Arturo, btw), new bumper guards and so forth installed. The vehicle was an eye catcher (una baja panty de pura sepa!)... now it's an eye sore.
It happened between Bani and San Cristobal. We got turned over by an other pick up truck coming out of a secondary with no brakes!
I will post pictures soon, after which you will doubt it's me writing here... we were three in the truck... and crawled out'a that thing, or what's left of it without a even a scratch! The other driver was also left fit enough to take a hike... running! The PN got a hold of him down the road... or at least so they say, because the poor guy they hauled in to declare did not look like he had been in an accident. Who cares... "their" insurance is limited to lo legal... nada!

Anyway, the vehicle has "full" coverage by La General de Seguros in Santo Domingo and got towed to Cervi Centro on Charles Sommer (parallel South of JFK and in between W. Churchill and Price Mart.
The "inspector" is expected to see the vehicle Monday and I expect the BS starting on the same day.
I have seen shops repairing damages like these, but in my opinion, I stand limited chances to get a straight, noise less, aligned and like new vehicle back after that. The sale value will also be adversely affected by the history (are there any records?).

Anyways, we're fine... just disappointed as I put about 2 weeks of my own sweat into the rebuilding (and slight customizing) of the vehicle.

The morale of it all? These boys gotta realize that they need to bring on bigger stuff than a simple truck to kill ol' J-D.



... J-D.

I'll post the vehicle's story on a other thread on the Living Forum.

[Rocky]

I was so very much hoping I was wrong.

Real glad to hear you're alright.
Real sad to hear about your wheels.

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

The morale of it all? These boys gotta realize that they need to bring on bigger stuff than a simple truck to kill ol' J-D.

So glad you retained both your sense of humour & your life, JD.

I don't know of any Government guidelines nor any industry standards here as to what constitutes a write-off. I think each insurance company decides for itself. But do a search on Superintendencia de Seguros
Superintendencia de Seguros de la República Dominicana - Inicio

and here is part of the law covering insurance but I don't know if it is up to date
NUEVA LEY SOBRE SEGUROS Y FIANZAS EN LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

[The Virginian]

My insurance company claimed my vehicle had incurred 65% damage and awarded a write off. I received the check 2 months later. It took 3 weeks to get an adjustor to look at it. Deciding factors, so I'm told, damage and part availability.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Lambada

So glad you retained both your sense of humour & your life, JD.

I don't know of any Government guidelines nor any industry standards here as to what constitutes a write-off. I think each insurance company decides for itself. But do a search on Superintendencia de Seguros
Superintendencia de Seguros de la República Dominicana - Inicio

and here is part of the law covering insurance but I don't know if it is up to date
NUEVA LEY SOBRE SEGUROS Y FIANZAS EN LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

Thanks Ma'm, I'll look into it.

Originally Posted by The Virginian

My insurance company claimed my vehicle had incurred 65% damage and awarded a write off. I received the check 2 months later. It took 3 weeks to get an adjustor to look at it. Deciding factors, so I'm told, damage and part availability.

Did they give you 65% of the current value of the vehicle and the vehicle or did they write it off completely based on it being damaged over 64%?


Thanks! ... J-D.

[Alfredo Guzman]

The standard policy in use in the Dominican Republic almost always gives insurance companies discretion on whether to repair the car or to have declare it as a total loss. Therefore, who you insure with is very important in the DR. There are many notorious insurance companies who will fight anything and everybody to the end.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Alfredo Guzman

The standard policy in use in the Dominican Republic almost always gives insurance companies discretion on whether to repair the car or to have declare it as a total loss. Therefore, who you insure with is very important in the DR. There are many notorious insurance companies who will fight anything and everybody to the end.

I hope this is not the case with the one we are insured with:
GENERAL DE SEGUROS


It's a full coverage policy with all items maxed out.

Sr. Guzman, does your office have a specialist who could represent us against the insurer? (please feel free to contact me).


Thanks! ... J-D.

[The Virginian]

They gave me the total value of the car. The policy was full coverage. They said it was worth 600,000 peso's. They deduct 1% so we ended up with 594,000 peso'. JD your other post that shows the pictures, very nice. You mentioned you would keep some chrome and the roof. Not sure the insurance company will allow that if those parts were on it when you insured it. In my case the 2 back seats were out of the car when it was wrecked. So the insurance company asked for them as they now owned the car. I had taken them out to carry some rather large items. I had no problem with that, what would I do with 2 back seats. Good luck.