Yes. If the settlement has occurred within four years, we can still help you negotiate a settlement for Diminished Value, depending on the state in which you live.
Your insurance company will pay to repair your vehicle, but after a collision, it's less marketable than before the wreck. When you sell the vehicle, you will be forced to absorb a loss, unless you make a Diminished Value claim.
For example, if your $30,000 vehicle is repaired after a major collision, it may only be worth $20,000. Is that fair to you? No! A Diminished Value claim allows you to get a settlement for the difference in market value for a pre-and-post crash vehicle. It is almost impossible for an insurance company to deny a diminished value claim to an insured claimant.
YES! Both you, and your insurance company have a right to an appraisal. It is always wise to hire your own impartial, appraiser to determine the value of your loss. Your insurance company may not protect your best interests with their in-house or computerized appraisals. When you protect yourself with an independent appraisal, your insurance company is obligated to negotiate a loss settlement using both. Be certain, and exercise your right to a competitive appraisal.
We get this question all the time. In short, ‘no’. However, you probably won’t be surprised that, like diminished value offers, the offers made by your insurance company for your totaled vehicle, are rarely accurate and we can almost always help you increase your settlement. YOU DON’T HAVE TO ACCEPT WHAT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS OFFERING. Let us review your claim for free and give you our opinion of the offer.
***With total loss vehicles, the damage is often much more severe, which increases the likelihood of injury. PLEASE tend to what matters the most (a.k.a. - YOU and YOURS) first. We care FAR more about you than we do your automobile. Metal can be replaced ... you can't. When YOU are taken care of, let us take care of your property.***