Auto Insurance Claims: Double accident, salvage value, blue book value

Question
So I was driving on a highway and another car had already gotten into a prior accident and was basically parked across the highway. I didn't see the car and hit the car. I caused damage to the passenger side and the prior accident did damage to the drivers side.  There was extensive damage cause by both accidents to the car. Our insurance company said that they paid most of the blue book value of the car. My question is should we be held accountable for the majority of the cost if there was extensive damage on both sides of the car. Thanks for your help.

Answer
You (and your insurer) are liable for the damages you caused only.  So they would normally write a repair estimate for that amount only.  But if the vehicle is a total loss, it becomes more complicated.  They then have to determine if it was a total loss before you hit it.  If yes, you owe only the salvage value (what they could have sold it for before you hit it).  If not, then the likely result would be that each company pay 50% of the total value.

If you think they overpaid, you can complain to the manager.