Why Flooded Cars Are Usually Totaled
Flood damage is one of the worst kinds of damages your car can experience. In fact, most flood-damaged cars are written off; their owners just get the dollar value of their cars just before the damage. You may not like this if your car is damaged in a flood and you prefer to repair it, but you will understand why it's the case once you have gone through the reasons below:
Water Causes Catastrophic Damage
The range of damages floodwater can cause on your car is almost endless, and most of them are pretty extreme. Top of the list is damage to the engine and electrical parts; these are also some of the most important and expensive parts of a car. For example, if water enters the engine while it is running or if you turn on the engine immediately after a flood, water may get into the combustion cylinders and bend the pistons beyond repair; that calls for a replacement of the entire engine. Water also conducts electricity, which means it can short-circuit the electrical wiring in your car and fry the electrical components. Coupled with other damages, all these may mean that your car would be too expensive to repair – calling for a write-off.
Mitigating Flood Damage Isn't Always Possible
Another problem with flood-related damage is that it isn't always easy to mitigate. Ideally, you should start drying the car as soon as you realize it has been flooded. You need to remove things from the car, air it out, change the engine oil and filters, among other things. Unfortunately, it may take some time before you can get to your car after a serious flood. This means the water may have time to settle in and cause serious damage before you can start the damage mitigation measures.
There Is a High Risk of Future Complications
Even if you have managed to clean out and repair your car after flood damage, there is always a risk that you may miss some hidden damage. This is dangerous because the damage may rear its head somewhere down the line when you are least expecting it and even cause an accident. Your car insurance company also doesn't want to face delayed claims from such scenarios. Therefore, if your car seems too damaged, your insurance company may err on the side of caution and write it off.
Therefore, don't think that your auto insurance company has an ulterior motive in seeking to write off your car after flood damage. If you are sentimentally attached to the car, talk to your insurance company about the possibility of buying it back.
Contact a company like Affordable Insurance for more information and assistance.
