Ok folks, our first time here, so will try our best.We recently suffered some damage to our coach, from an 18 wheeler reversing into us, whilst stopped to fuel up!!! So, we had repairs completed, and are now fighting to claim for Diminished Value!! The whole thing about this is very frustrating, so we are now at a point of asking if anyway on this forum can offer any advise to help us out. We have tried the independent appraisal, and submitted that to the "at fault company's, insurance company" and still they are not accepting our claim.....help!!

I negotiated a value for our Jaguar that was damaged by a State Farm insured. They did not want to use the "diminished value" claim that I originally started with. They asked that I submit what I would accept and they would review and rule on my suggestions. I submitted three different alternatives and they agreed to write me a check for the full amount that I requested. No lawyer involved and I feel that they handled it very well and quickly. I would get all of your figures together and just tell the insurance company what you would accept. Try to avoid using the "diminished value" reference and see how it goes. Remember they are supposed to get you back to where you were before the accident. Some companies are easier to deal with than others but I would think that a large company that handles commercial vehicles would just be interested in a quick settlement.

The only advice I can think of is to speak to a lawyer. He/she can advise you on how to proceed with your case.

gbopp wrote:The only advice I can think of is to speak to a lawyer. He/she can advise you on how to proceed with your case.The problem with lawyers is that they usually end up costing you more than whatever you end up getting.

If this happened on private property it most likely isn't going to show on any vehicle report so diminished value may not even be a factor. Moreover if the damage was cosmetic and not structural or safety related it may be tough to show diminished value even with an appraisal. That said every state has different insurance rules and how diminished value is forced or not. If the insurance company involved can legally can fight it they will.

“The problem with lawyers is that they usually end up costing you more than whatever you end up getting.“So you are suggesting, way2roll, that OP, who has received nothing, shouldn’t get a lawyer to get something?

Diminshed Value Claims | Good Sam Community

Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Sep 25, 2019
This one has run its course.
Bert_Ackerman
Explorer
Sep 25, 2019
ST LUCIE APPRAISAL wrote:
Just to play along...say your old Explorer is worth $5,000 and the accident caused $3,000 in repairs including structural damage. Any Ford dealer would tell you that they can only give you $2,500 because of the repair history. So, you lost twenty-five hundred. And that's ONLY if you are trading it in on another car. If you are just looking to sell it they will offer even less.

Most people here could use an extra $2,500.00. How about you, Mr. Skeptic?

No
ST_LUCIE_APPRAI
Explorer
Sep 25, 2019
Just to play along...say your old Explorer is worth $5,000 and the accident caused $3,000 in repairs including structural damage. Any Ford dealer would tell you that they can only give you $2,500 because of the repair history. So, you lost twenty-five hundred. And that's ONLY if you are trading it in on another car. If you are just looking to sell it they will offer even less.

Most people here could use an extra $2,500.00. How about you, Mr. Skeptic?
ST_LUCIE_APPRAI
Explorer
Sep 25, 2019
Bert Ackerman wrote:
ST LUCIE APPRAISAL wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
I was just in an accident with my 2001 Explorer which has 192k miles on it. I’m thinking about going for diminished value from their insurance!

Make certain there wasn't a prior repair done to your vehicle because if that's the case the insurance company will practically force you to sue their insured in order to collect.

ROFLMAO....which is most likely what the insurance company will be doing also. What is the diminished value on an 18 yr old Ford Exploder? $3.00?
JALLEN4
Explorer
Sep 25, 2019
rgatijnet1 wrote:
JALLEN4 wrote:

The reality is that those vehicles repaired improperly and presenting a potential structural risk can be discovered by a competent automotive inspector.

Please explain how a consumer is supposed to inspect a vehicle after it has been repaired? Where are these competent automotive inspectors? Determining if a vehicle has been in a accident is easy. Determining if it has been repaired right is not easy and an incorrect repair can easily be hidden by bondo and paint.
I was never talking about a cosmetic repair. I clearly mentioned a unibody with a replacement quarter or rear end when talking about diminished value..
I assume that you have not viewed "my profile" when you decided to call me uneducated and inexperienced when it comes to vehicles.

I have now read your profile. I congratulate you on being a general contractor and having a hobby of working on old things. If a question comes up about a commercial building we will know where to go. On the other hand, I am a retired new car dealer who owned numerous body shops. I dealt with these questions for a living daily for decades.

The consumer has a number of options when looking for an inspection of a potential used vehicle. There are usually dealers, independent garages, body shops, and other professionals in any community that offer the service. Yes, for the amateur, bondo and paint will cover up a lot of things. People who actually are involved in these things see the bondo and know then what to start looking for.

As a person who has been involved in the sale of tens of thousands of used vehicles, not having a potential purchase inspected by an independent professional is really dumb!
mc_cc
Explorer
Sep 25, 2019
ArchHoagland wrote:
Did you turn it into your own insurance company?

Good point! Florida is a no-fault state. In Florida, turn it into your own insurance company and let them fight the other guy. I'm not sure what state you live in though. Start with your own insurance company though. Hopefully you have comprehensive coverage.
4x4van
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2019
I think what many of you are overlooking is the fact that very seldom (if ever) are vehicles with major and/or structural damage actually repaired. Those are totaled, simply due to the high cost of repairing, and end up with salvage titles. "Repairable" vehicles are very unlikely to have major damage that will compromise the safety of it's occupants. So again, how does a vehicle with minor damage that is repaired properly sustain "diminished value"? It doesn't. At least it didn't, until "sheep" started drinking the koolaid and were convinced that they were "owed" something more than what traditionally was accepted. Not a whole lot different from outrageous court settlements for "pan & suffering" or "emotional distress" that are commonplace today.

JALLEN4 explained the whole "Carfax" scam extremely well. Just a couple years ago, I purchased a 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha with a very clean Carfax. No accidents, no major repairs. I have since found evidence of significant right front end damage. Repaired correctly, it still runs/drives perfectly. "Diminished value"? I think not. Yes, I would have still purchased, for the same price, had I noticed it at that time.
wallynm
Explorer
Sep 24, 2019
We had a car damaged in an accident and I can tell you the car fax report had little to no information that related to the accident report of repair report, estimate or claim. The car fax report did not identify the correct side of the car that was involved and the accident description had not relation ship to the accident report.

IMHO carfax is a fraud
Bert_Ackerman
Explorer
Sep 24, 2019
ST LUCIE APPRAISAL wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
I was just in an accident with my 2001 Explorer which has 192k miles on it. I’m thinking about going for diminished value from their insurance!

Make certain there wasn't a prior repair done to your vehicle because if that's the case the insurance company will practically force you to sue their insured in order to collect.

ROFLMAO....which is most likely what the insurance company will be doing also. What is the diminished value on an 18 yr old Ford Exploder? $3.00?
ST_LUCIE_APPRAI
Explorer
Sep 24, 2019
dodge guy wrote:
I was just in an accident with my 2001 Explorer which has 192k miles on it. I’m thinking about going for diminished value from their insurance!

Make certain there wasn't a prior repair done to your vehicle because if that's the case the insurance company will practically force you to sue their insured in order to collect.

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