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Video: Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyer Paulsen Discusses Getting Your Car Paid for After an Accident
June 25, 2025
Transcript
The Shocking Reality After a Totaled Car
What would you do if you’re in a car accident and your car is totaled, but you’re stuck paying off your loan balance? This happens all the time—even with full insurance coverage. Most people don’t realize it, unfortunately, until the bill shows up.
Real Example: You Still Owe Thousands
Let me give you an example. Let’s say that you’re driving an older car—maybe a 2019 sedan—that you financed a while back, but you still owe $9,000 on the loan. You get into a car accident, and your insurance company deems it a total loss and says that it’s only worth $6,000.
Now you’re stuck paying $3,000 out of pocket for a car that you no longer have—and you can’t drive.
What Insurance Actually Covers
As a car accident attorney in Massachusetts, I see this all too often: injured drivers dealing not only with pain but also with unexpected financial fallout just like this.
This happens because insurance companies in Massachusetts only pay the actual cash value of your vehicle after a total loss. They don’t pay for what you still owe—unless you have GAP insurance.
What GAP Insurance Is and Why You Need It
GAP stands for Guaranteed Asset Protection, and it covers the gap between your car’s value and your remaining loan or lease balance.
Here’s the thing: it’s not included automatically. You need to ask your financing company or your insurance provider if you have it.
How to Check If You’re Covered
I’m attorney Tracy Paulsen with Rightful Legal, and I help people across Massachusetts recover the compensation they deserve after a car accident.
But when GAP insurance is missing, it adds a whole new layer of stress and financial strain—and I don’t want you to go through this when you’re trying to focus on your health and your recovery.
Please, today, make a call to your lender for your car or your car insurance provider to see if you’re protected by GAP.
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and want to know what you’re truly owed—whether it’s for property damage or a physical injury—please call me at 617-821-5856 or visit rightfullegal.com.
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