How Insurance Companies Use Your Odometer to Undervalue Your Car After a Crash in Ohio

After a serious car accident, most people focus on their injuries and rightly so. But once the dust settles, another battle begins: dealing with the insurance company over the value of your totaled or damaged car. What many people don’t realize is that your odometer reading plays a massive role in how much they’re willing to pay you and if you don’t have the right documentation, you could lose thousands.

At SELPH LAW, we help car accident victims across Ohio protect their rights not just for injury compensation, but also when it comes to maximizing vehicle value claims. Here’s how to make sure your car isn’t undervalued after a crash.

Why the Odometer Reading Matters So Much

Insurance companies use your car’s mileage to calculate its actual cash value (ACV) the amount they claim it was worth at the time of the accident. Higher mileage means a lower payout. The difference between a car with 60,000 miles and one with 100,000+ miles can be thousands of dollars.

If the insurance company underestimates your mileage or doesn’t have accurate proof they’ll lowball you.

Common tricks include:

Using outdated service records

Relying on estimated mileage, not facts

Ignoring recent low mileage use (e.g., work-from-home changes)

What to Do Right After an Accident to Protect Your Car’s Value

✅ Take a clear photo of your odometer at the accident scene if safe to do so.

✅ Save maintenance and service records that show recent mileage.

✅ Request a copy of the police report, which may include odometer info.

✅ Document your vehicle’s condition tires, interior, features, upgrades.

✅ Ask the tow yard to photograph the dash before the vehicle is moved.

Why You Can’t Rely on the Insurance Adjuster

The adjuster is working for the other side even your own insurance company is motivated to settle your vehicle claim for less. They might:

Claim you didn’t maintain the vehicle

Ignore aftermarket upgrades

Use national depreciation calculators that don’t reflect Ohio markets

You have the right to challenge their valuation and we can help.

How SELPH LAW Fights for the Full Value of Your Vehicle

We take vehicle valuation seriously especially when it’s tied to a larger injury claim.

We:

Submit photo documentation of the odometer and condition

Dispute lowball settlement offers with market comparisons

Review all appraisal documentation for accuracy

Work with vehicle valuation experts when necessary

For many clients, we’ve recovered thousands more than the insurance company initially offered for their totaled vehicle.

Pro Tip: Low Vehicle Value Offers Can Undercut Your Injury Claim

If you’re financing or leasing your car, or you owe more than it’s worth, the insurance company’s payout may not even cover the loan. This can weaken your injury case by creating financial pressure to settle quickly.

We help our clients understand the full impact of their losses vehicle, medical, and beyond and structure your case for maximum recovery.

Call SELPH LAW for a Free Case Review

If you’ve been in a serious car accident in Ohio, don’t let the insurance company dictate what your car or your case is worth. Protect your claim and get the compensation you truly deserve.

Call SELPH LAW at (614)-453-0971 for a free consultation. No fees unless we win.

How Insurance Companies Use Your Odometer to Undervalue Your Car After a Crash in Ohio

How Insurance Companies Use Your Odometer to Undervalue Your Car After a Crash in Ohio

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