More or less?
It's true, no reason to lie or even embellish. The payoff was $19,900, plus storage & tow from the scene. Total payout to cover loss and expenses $21,000.
You need to understand that certain states passed legislation stating in effect, a vehicle is considered salvage when repair costs, not including repainting, exceeds the vehicle's value at the moment before the damage. Florida requires the issuance of a "dismantle" title which precludes the re-registration of this vehicle within the state ever again, it can only be dismantled, the VIN is dead. Many of these laws were passed after Hurricanes like Andrew, Katrina preventing the re-sale of flood cars nationwide. Additionally there is now concern within the major causality insurance companies that a future buyer of a repaired vehicle that might have been a total loss will come back on the casualty company after an incident for not exercising proper judgment by allowing this vehicle back on the road on a clean title. This is the litigious society in which we live. Keep in mind that companies like CARFAX discovered the expensive way they can not guarantee all past damage as they stated early on, most cash repairs, washed titles, never show up in the system, it is a tool not a declaration of certain fact.
This insurance company uses a body shop software known as CCC. This program while efficient and fast, attaches replacement parts @ manufacturer retail & labor @ a hourly rate according to the zone which the damage occurs, in this case, Houston. The repair total exceeded $27,000 based upon retail price of the parts, paint cost and labor, insane, but very useful in negotiating a settlement in this case based upon the limited availability nature of this model Discovery. The photo of the TREK within the thread was their base determination of value. A few more were found and used in an attempt to establish this value but they appeared for sale as far back as 2011. The problem with the internet and establishing value based on asking price.
The owner was not in a corner so to speak after the accident, he did not need a rental, there is no payoff on the Trek, so he was not jammed up for a settlement. He asked me to speak with the adjuster & claim representative on his behalf. While you might expect that only attorneys have this capability, let me assure you that is not the case, properly prepared you can achieve a favorable outcome as well. Even though the truck flipped onto its side, the damage was purely cosmetic. The sheet metal damage alone was enough to total the truck by Texas law. There are no other comparable trucks about or available @ this time, this result was expected.
I am not involved in the rebuild project, this is his deal, I did what I was asked to do, the outcome was equitable, he accepted the settlement and has been returned to whole status. The basic operating premise of insurance law. It's simple, insurance companies will have you believe they and they alone establish value, and this is simply not true. The majority of this type case require a quick settlement based upon the needs of the loss payee, this guy actually told the company their determined payoff was not acceptable. I simply reinforced the point, they agreed and closed the case by settlement.
Can't help you with your boss, will tell you if you have no vested interest in the company and feel under utilized and compensated, change companies, negotiate more income prior to the move and then honor your requirement to perform. Take care.