Car Stolen and Totaled

Over a month ago my car was stolen and intercepted by the police a few days later. Once spotted, the suspect fled and it turned into a police pursuit. The pursuit ended with my car getting crashed.

There were two other individuals in the car that sustained critical injuries so the police department placed a hold on my car, pending investigation. Even though my car is visibly destroyed beyond repair, the insurance company says there’s nothing they can do right now since the adjuster cannot assess the damages.

Both my insurance and police department have been nearly impossible to contact and rental car is expiring this week.

I’ve never been in this situation and don’t know what to do (if anything at all) and would love some advice/insights.

Police holds are common. Insurance just needs photos to write an estimate and presumably total the vehicle so that you can move on with your life. Years from now when the vehicle is released by the police, insurance will pick it up. Call, call, call constantly.

Call the police* constantly not insurance lmao

“Hello, elected Mayor, Sheriff, D.A., County Commissioner (etc)”
I am a constituent, and a victim of a crime. I need your help. My car was stolen, and the thieves caused a major incident.

Insurance is stalling the claim for lack of evidence that the car is totaled. All that I need to move on with this issue and my life is for someone to to walk out to the impound lot and take pictures.

These can go to me or to (insurance company). This simple, 10 minute action likely solves my problem. If, for some reason, (Insurance Company) does not accept the pictures, I may need someone to take another 15 minutes to walk the (Company) Insurance Adjuster on the lot and watch them say “Oh My” in a George Takei voice.

Again, I am an innocent victim here. Can you please ask someone to take less than 1/2 an hour to resolve this administrative nightmare?

Thank you

It really shouldn’t even be this difficult. I used to work theft claims specifically and the police should be accommodating. Sounds like it might be a green adjuster.

> I used to work theft claims
>and the police should be accommodating

I’m out of the insurance game now, and none of it should be this difficult, but sometimes in some places, it still is.

No doubt, a lot of it can come down to the adjuster.

As a field appraiser who has dealt with this kinda of thing before. The insurance appraiser and yourself generally need to get in contact with the sergeant assigned to the case. I would even go down to the police dept. Alot of times, they will send someone from evidence or the officer themselves to go and accompany the appraiser to the police hold lot to allow in person inspection.

Maybe it’s different in NY but it’s usually a detective assigned to a case not a sergeant.

You should push both your insurance and the police for updates. Consider escalating with a formal complaint if communication continues to be difficult. Also, request an extension on your rental from the insurance.

I am a Commercial Fire and Theft Adjuster, a lot of impounds take photos see if they will release the photos to your Adjuster.

Also, try the DA. Sometimes, they have some pity and can help out.