Our car just caught fire

[Suiren]

We have no money. I have medical bills. It's totaled. We're okay. I can't comprehend anything else right now except why God, why? I was supposed to start my new anxiety meds tomorrow... already had a panic attack. I need every prayer I can get that we can get through this. I am so thankful that things weren't worse but all I can think about is how royally screwed we are. He works about 25 miles from here and I don't have a job... I can't rant anymore right now. Thank God we're okay.

[Barbara]

Your insurance will cover it. Now, granted, being without a car for a bit until the claim is settled will be a bit trying, but that's all it will be.

You're well; he's well - that's what matters.

[A Turtle Named Mack]

I am so sorry - I know how it can be to deal with one more problem when you are already feeling like you have all you can handle.

I want to warn you though that depending on the circumstances, your insurance may not cover it. If it was the result of insufficient maintenance, or a number of other issues, it may be excluded. Also, if there is any hint of the fire being caused deliberately, then the insurance company will not pay. It happens so often that people get mounting debts and think they can get out of their car loan by burning (or otherwise destroying it) to make the insurance company pay off the debt. There is almost always an investigation when a car burns (can you really blame them for questioning what is really a rare event in the absence of deliberate action?), and they will look at various factors, such as whether there are any accelerants where they should not be (such as gas in the passenger compartment), how the fire got ignited, who had acess to the car, what debts you were facing, whether you were 'upside-down' on any loan you have for the car, etc. Try to be patient. For the most part insurance investigators are just doing their job and would rather pass off a claim as okay, but have a duty to flag any indications of fraud.

[Suiren]

Both the fire and police that came last night said it was definitely an accident. The spark happened somewhere behind the dashboard and spread quickly, it was an electrical fire. It didn't destroy the engine, but the interior is toast and the severe water damage from them putting out the fire made them consider it totaled. Even our insurance company had it towed to to a totaled parking lot. We have USAA, they've always been good to us. We just bought a new car battery about two weeks ago and new tires about two months ago. I really hope no one thinks we did this on purpose (not saying that you do).

[A Turtle Named Mack]

I was not accusing, but as I work in the insurance industry, I know how car fires raise red flags. It's good that you are with USAA: they have a reputation in the industry of leaning strongly toward paying claims rather than fighting over them. An electrical short like that shoulod be fine, since that is generally not the way people burn their cars when they want to get rid of them.

[Lainie]

IME, having a car totaled sometimes turns out better for the owner than having it considered repairable. If it were repairable, you'd have to cover the deductible out of pocket.

[Suiren]

Originally Posted by A Turtle Named Mack

I was not accusing, but as I work in the insurance industry, I know how car fires raise red flags. It's good that you are with USAA: they have a reputation in the industry of leaning strongly toward paying claims rather than fighting over them. An electrical short like that shoulod be fine, since that is generally not the way people burn their cars when they want to get rid of them.

I know you weren't accusing, and you had a valid point. I totally understand why fires are usually investigated, and in this type of economy (god I'm tired of saying that) people are probably more likely to want to cash in on a policy.