08/18/2026
Just a little reminder of knowing your rights when dealing with insurance companies after wrecks.
1. In PA, if you bought collision coverage, your insurance company is required to pay for the repairs necessary to return your vehicle to its pre-accident condition. If that can't be done, then your insurance company must total the vehicle. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO CHOOSE THE PERSON WHO WILL PERFORM THE REPAIRS. Insurance companies will try and tell you where HAVE to take it. This is NOT CORRECT.
2. If your car is totaled as a result of a PA car accident, make the effort to know what your car was worth before the car accident. PA requires insurance damage appraisers to follow one of three defined approaches to determining the value of your car.
Typically, the appraiser will average book values (using a source such as the NADA Official Used Car Guide), but they can also consider actual selling prices of similar cars or, more rarely, opinions of dealers. Do your own research and tell the appraiser if you think something has been overlooked or mispriced.
3. If you are unable to resolve disputes with your insurance company — for example, if you can't agree on the actual cash value of your vehicle - then you have options. Oftentimes, your company will have a consumer representative with whom you can speak. If that doesn't work, some policies have dispute resolution procedures such as mediation or arbitration. You can also contact Pennsylvania's Insurance Department at 1-877-881-6388.
