Need help beating insurance company

[Five Oh Brian]

Diminished Value claims are common here in Washington as more and more people learn that they can ask for - and receive - this compensation. The value reduction is relative to the extent of the damage done to the car, in theory, but it is very hard to deduce from a Carfax report just how badly damaged a car was. Was it just a bumper skin or was the floorpan bent? Just a dented in door or was a motor mount broken with the engine let loose in the engine bay? Who knows? Carfax (and AutoCheck) reports don't divulge this info. If the repairs were all perfectly done, then the value reduction isn't much (maybe 5-10%). Bad repair? Maybe as much as 25% reduction in value. Branded titles (rebuilt, lemon, totalled, flooded, etc.) result in about a 50% reduction in value.

 

[FSTBLK]

Good info Brian. Thanks. The entire right rear quarter panel is all new up to the doors, trunk needed new pans and a lot of sheet metal work, rear axle housing broken and axle bent, front suspension destroyed, new front right fender, headlight, both new bumpers, etc. Yeah... pretty extensive body work, but it was fixed to perfection -- I took it apart too just to see if it was a bloody mess with a band-aid and its clean all the way through. Very pro job. Based on your comments, I would expect a 5-10% loss. Car is valued KBB at 29k trade-in.

 

[one.wicked.stang]

When my wife was rear ended in my car it was about 6 months old and I wanted diminished value for the damage, the body shop told me that unless it gets reported to somewhere like carfax that shows it was in a wreck it wouldnt "technically" diminish the value because there isnt any real proof the car was ever hit. They repaired it with genuine ford parts (I insisted on that) and to this day you can never tell the car was hit. Now, they did only replace the bumper and foam crash pad. There was no actual body damage. If the car still holds a normal title and not a salvage title it may be hard to get a diminished value, as others stated have an appraisal.

 

[VTXFrank]

sounds like you are trying to scheem them! If they paid for it be done go on your way!!! or ask them about there appraiser and go from there! never heared of loss of value pay out!

It is spelled, "scheme" BTW. And I think you're the only one who is implying the OP is trying to do something illegal. The woman's insurance company has already acknowledged there is a burden of compensation on their part for the loss of value to his wrecked Mustang.

Have someone crash into your car, get it repaired, and then a year later, want to trade it in. If it's listed on Carfax, or the other reporting agencies, as having been in an accident, I can guarantee you will have a severe case of the ass when you find out your trade in value just dropped by $3,000 to $10,000+ depending on the extent of the damage. You've displayed a tremendous amount of sheer ignorance in your post and the accusation you've made is patently offensive.

OP, you've got plenty of advice here. Just research the average retail selling price of cars like yours, if it were in stock form, and then get a professional appraiser to appraise your car as repaired and then as if it had never been in an accident. You may want to pay this person for their services. By offering to pay them, and you may also be able to claim that amount, I bet you'll find someone more willing to put their name on the line. Just make sure it's a reputable person and not Joe Blow that works at the corner Trick and Stick car lot.

 

[stang8psi]

It is spelled, "scheme" BTW. And I think you're the only one who is implying the OP is trying to do something illegal. The woman's insurance company has already acknowledged there is a burden of compensation on their part for the loss of value to his wrecked Mustang.

Have someone crash into your car, get it repaired, and then a year later, want to trade it in. If it's listed on Carfax, or the other reporting agencies, as having been in an accident, I can guarantee you will have a severe case of the ass when you find out your trade in value just dropped by $3,000 to $10,000+ depending on the extent of the damage. You've displayed a tremendous amount of sheer ignorance in your post and the accusation you've made is patently offensive.

OP, you've got plenty of advice here. Just research the average retail selling price of cars like yours, if it were in stock form, and then get a professional appraiser to appraise your car as repaired and then as if it had never been in an accident. You may want to pay this person for their services. By offering to pay them, and you may also be able to claim that amount, I bet you'll find someone more willing to put their name on the line. Just make sure it's a reputable person and not Joe Blow that works at the corner Trick and Stick car lot.

wow the typing mafia is out in full..

I didn't say he was doung anythin illegal! said he is trying to get something that is not often awarded! If the car is fixed and there is no reporting agency that has reported it as a total loss or a collision as other have stated, then just be happy the car got fixed and go abouts your way!

 

[twisted_GT500]

I have Allstate, and had never received a check for loss of value...until recently. Last month my car was hit (08 GT500). Ended up being a little over $4000 worth of damage, but there was surprisingly little done. New bumper, quarter panel, splitter, headlight, and paint and labor. The HID was over $1100! I thought everything was done until Allstate sent me a letter stating they had estimated my car lost just under $1000, so they sent me a check for it! Georgia insurance btw