In the event of an auto accident, you may hear the term “pre-loss condition” being used by your insurance provider. Maybe it’s the first time that you may have heard of the term and have no idea what it’s about. You don’t want to be clueless about a critical aspect of an auto accident to make a claim. What is “pre-loss condition” all about? Here we’ll explain what pre-loss condition is and why it’s important to you.
What is Pre-loss Condition?
Pre-loss condition is a term insurance companies use to describe a vehicle before it was damaged. It maintains that “following an accident, your vehicle will be repaired as close as possible to the condition it was in an instant before the accident.” In other words, your car, for instance, should you meet in an accident, pre-loss condition requires that it be repaired to the state that it was in right before it was hit and damaged by another vehicle. Your vehicle should be returned to its pre-loss condition, entitling you to be “made whole”, or if that’s not possible, you should receive adequate compensation for the damage done to your vehicle.
Your insurance company cannot compel you to accept less and is not obligated to restore your damaged vehicle to a better condition than it was in before an accident.
Factors That are Important in a Vehicle’s Pre-Loss Condition
Function
Was your vehicle fully functional before the accident? Maybe all the essential functions of the vehicle were intact. Functions related to braking, steering, signaling, and just about any systems that are linked to the handling of the vehicle are crucial to pre-loss conditions.
Appearance
What did your vehicle look like before the accident? Did you have any dents, cracked glass, significant scratches, etc., or was it free of defects? Complete restoration of all areas of your vehicle to at least the same appearance just before an accident is required.
Safety
This is a critical aspect as it relates to pre-loss conditions and shouldn’t be overlooked. If the SRS systems that control airbags, for example, were compromised during the accident, they should be correctly restored to ensure continued safety and protection of vehicle occupants.
Value
The value of your vehicle is essential, especially if you are ever thinking about selling or trading it in for a new one. The repair and restoration of your vehicle have been done to the extent that they are of a value equal to the value of your vehicle just before the accident. It shouldn’t be any diminished value, and you are not required to increase in value.
Have you just been in a car accident? Let ASI Collision help to repair and restore your vehicle so that you can be back on the road in no time. ASI Collision is an expert, Audi-Certified collision repair center where your vehicle will get the best assessment and restoration. Give us a call today or fill out our online contact form!
