Can I Get a Replacement Car After My New Car Was Hit?
2 Answers
Yes, you can get a replacement car. Here are the relevant details: Conditions for replacement: The damage from the accident must render the car totaled or beyond repair. Claimable items: Repair costs, transportation expenses, and lost wages. If there are injuries in the accident, you can also claim medical and nursing expenses, lost wages and transportation costs, emotional distress compensation, and nutrition expenses. Medical and nursing expenses are determined based on hospital treatment and hospitalization fees, as well as the number, income, and duration of caregivers. Lost wages and transportation costs are calculated according to the victim's income and the actual expenses incurred by the victim and necessary accompanying personnel for medical visits or hospital transfers. Emotional distress compensation is linked to the disability level; if the injury does not reach the disability level, emotional distress compensation cannot be claimed in principle. Nutrition expenses are based on hospital-issued receipts for relevant nutritional supplements.
After my new car was unfortunately hit, I went to file an insurance claim and found out whether I could get a replacement mainly depends on the extent of the damage. If the car is completely wrecked, the insurance company will declare it a total loss, in which case they compensate based on the current market value of the vehicle—usually the new car price minus depreciation, averaging a loss of tens of thousands, which is far from enough to buy a new one. For partial damage, they only cover repair costs. I recommend everyone with a new car to get comprehensive insurance, especially GAP insurance to cover the loan difference, but getting a direct replacement is almost impossible because insurers aim to minimize costs. After an accident, the car depreciates faster, and its resale value plummets—that’s the real pain point.
