After a car accident, the value of your car may drop significantly. This is called diminished value, which is the difference in the market value of your car before and after the accident. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, an auto insurance company could pay for the decrease in value of your vehicle after a covered loss. This difference between what the car was worth before the accident and the market value of the car after the repair is known as diminished value. Diminished value is the loss of the market value of a vehicle after the damage is caused by an accident.
As soon as a vehicle is involved in an accident, its market value decreases, even if the damage is fully repaired. This is because consumers' perception of the value of the vehicle decreases. In many cases, even after an accident has been completely repaired, its value is still lower than before. To recover the diminished value of a vehicle, consumers must file a decreased value claim with their insurance company. There are two types of diminished value: inherent and immediate.
Inherent diminished value describes the loss of value of a vehicle even after repairs have been made to restore it to its original state. This type of decline in value occurs when the vehicle loses value simply because it now has a history of damage. Immediate diminished value is calculated as the difference in the resale value of a vehicle immediately before and after an accident. People file a reduced value claim with an insurance company to seek compensation for the difference between the value of the car before the accident and after it has been repaired. For some people, this can mean thousands of dollars back from their insurance company.
If you have been involved in an accident and believe that your car has lost value even after it has been repaired, contact experts in diminished value claims to determine its diminished value. To receive adequate compensation for the decline in value, you must first receive a credible appraisal demonstrating the loss in value of your vehicle. Then, work with the responsible party involved in the accident and their insurance company to receive what you deserve. According to Lawsector, taking your case to court may be necessary to receive compensation for your diminished value. Most auto insurance companies in the United States calculate diminished value using a formula called 17c. You must file a reduced value claim when you have a car accident in which another party is at fault, to recover for any decrease in your car's worth.
According to formula 17c, mileage on a car affects its diminished value twice: once below NADA's market value and again when evaluating its mileage multiplier. You should expect to recover a larger amount of decreased value for a newer car with lower mileage and a lower decreased value for an older car with higher mileage. The key to negotiating a lower amount is to obtain evaluations and inspections from reputable third parties. Your vehicle has already been repaired, so its worth should not be reduced. There is a possibility that insurance will pay for any decrease in your vehicle's worth after an accident has occurred. Understanding how insurers calculate diminished value will help you negotiate optimal compensation.
The key to recovering full compensation for your diminished value loss is to submit to your insurance company a complete, professionally prepared estimate.
