By Steven Williams: Mutuality Advisor, Good Driver Mutuality.

Incident Overview

In November of last year, just south of Denver, Colorado, Aaliyah and Smith Sawyer (name changed for privacy) submitted a sharing request after a collision with a large deer caused significant damage to their 2013 Toyota RAV-4. The Sawyers live in a known migration corridor, where deer travel between lower elevations in winter and higher elevations in summer. Deer strikes are common here, and unfortunately, one such crossing resulted in a serious accident for the Sawyers.

Initial Assessment

During our first call, Mr. Sawyer explained that although the deer ran off into the woods, their RAV-4 sustained significant visible damage. He submitted high-quality photos along with the vehicle’s VIN for review. Upon inspection of the images, I observed the hood was buckled, both headlamps were broken, the front bumper was mangled, and the grille was smashed.

Despite the severity of the damage, there were no visible leaks, and the vehicle remained operational. Mr. Sawyer had driven it home and parked it in his garage, and he had taken all the photos of the RAV-4 there. As a Mutuality Advisor, I can only assess visible damage based on the submitted materials. Speculating on hidden issues compromises the objectivity of our evaluation. Once the vehicle reaches a repair facility, technicians will dismantle components and submit a supplement if hidden damage is discovered — ensures transparency and ethical integrity. Given the extensive exterior damage of the Sawyers' RAV-4, there was strong potential for hidden damage.

Damage Estimate & Inspection

To obtain a formal estimate, I contacted Innovation Group, our trusted collision-repair partner. They quickly located a repair facility near the Sawyers and arranged an in-person inspection at the repair shop. As suspected, hidden damage was uncovered: a bent condenser, broken radiator mounts, and additional engine bay issues. The resulting repair estimate came in at $11,135.88.

Given the repair costs, it became necessary to assess whether the RAV-4 met the threshold for total loss. Each state has specific regulations that determine when a vehicle is declared a total loss — usually when repair costs exceed a percentage of its Actual Cash Value (ACV).

Vehicle Valuation (ACV)

The Actual Cash Value or ACV represents the fair market value of the vehicle at the time of loss, factoring in depreciation, mileage, condition, location, and any prior damage or upgrades. For this valuation, I used Audatex Autosource, a trusted vehicle appraisal platform used across the insurance industry. It provides accurate and defensible vehicle values using proprietary data and local market intelligence.

Geographic location also affects values. The example I always give is that heated seats do not sell well in Florida and air conditioning does not sell well in Alaska. I confirmed all vehicle features and options with Mr. Sawyer. The resulting ACV came back at $15,360.00.

With the damage exceeding 70% of this value, the RAV-4 was officially declared a total loss.

Salvage & Community Reinvestment

Once the vehicle was deemed a total loss, I guided Mr. Sawyer through the next steps. We arranged for Copart, GDM’s salvage auction partner, to retrieve the vehicle from the repair shop. Mr.Sawyer mailed in the vehicle title, and Copart conducted the auction. Net proceeds from the sale were returned to GDM’s community fund to support future member incidents.

Community Sharing & Transportation Assistance

The total loss settlement amount — including the vehicle’s ACV and applicable taxes — was $16,396.80. Additionally, Mr. Sawyer had transportation assistance included in his GDM plan. After submitting his full rental car invoice, he was reimbursed $1,200.00.

After deducting Mr. Sawyer’s out-of-pocket expenses and the remaining pledge balance from the total losses, the GDM Donation covered a portion, with the remaining amount collectively shared among other community members.

Reflections & Mutual Support

This case highlights the importance of expert collaboration, rigorous standards, and above all, mutual support. It’s what drives us — every mile of the way.