Bridgeport residents risk car accidents each time they enter the roadway, but a car crash is not always the most devastating part. Sometimes, the damage done to their vehicles by a negligent party’s actions causes severely diminished value in their cars after repairs.
Such a loss in the value of their car becomes an issue, especially when they attempt to sell their car in the future or owe money to a lender. Yet, with an additional insurance policy to cover the loss of value of your car, it might help offset your financial loss.
Like many claims to insurance companies and negligent parties, there might be hesitation to pay what your case is worth. Fighting for compensation after a car accident already leads to prolonged and complicated claims, but when there is substantial damage done to your car, the value of the vehicle will not be what it could be.
Do not let a negligent party put you in a position where you lose out on the value of your car. Hire a local Bridgeport diminished value claims lawyer today to schedule your initial consultation.
The team at Bert McDowell is ready to help. You may reach us at (203) 590-9169 or online through our form to schedule a free case review with our experienced Bridgeport car accident attorneys.
Hiring a Bridgeport Diminished Value Claims Attorney Helps
All vehicles in Connecticut have their accident history recorded and associated with their VIN and title. When a prospective buyer is looking to buy a car, they look for any accidents and impacts it may have on its resale value.
Buyers will review any accidents, clouds on the title, etc., to ensure their purchase is worthwhile. As a result, not all buyers are willing or able to risk purchasing a car with significant accident history or damage.
This mindset affects the owners of a car in a car accident at the time of sale or trade-in. When someone looks to sell their car or trade in for another, they hope to receive the highest value possible to minimize the loan they owe on the new one.
But when there is an accident in recorded history — especially one with severe damages to the frame or other parts, the car’s appraised value might be much less than expected. Diminished value damages have value in a claim, and you should seek to receive it.
Reaching out to a Bridgeport diminished value claims attorney might be the solution to resolve your case. A diminished value claims attorney will be there to fight for you when other parties attempt to convince you to settle for less than you are owed or prevent you from receiving compensation altogether.
They will be responsible and able to prepare your claim through thorough evidence and document evaluation, calculate losses and damage, and prepare a solid claim.
What Is a Diminished Value Claim?
Even if you get repairs done after a car accident, the resale value can be affected by the damages it received in a collision. This kind of damage in an insurance claim is called diminished value. According to Connecticut law, the person responsible for the crash is typically the one responsible for the diminished value of any damaged property.
Types of Diminished Value Claims
As Time Magazine indicates, there are three types of diminished value claims:
- Inherent
- Repair-related
- Immediate
Each type of claim is a bit different.
Inherent
Even in a minor accident, any hit or damage to your car may impact its value and what you can get if you sell it. When you file an inherent diminished value claim, the insurance is being told that you sought and made needed repairs for your vehicle and are seeking the difference in value from before the accident to after.
The difference in value should resolve the loss you would face if you were to sell that vehicle at the new value price.
Repair-Related
Faulty parts and incomplete repairs make an already difficult and costly situation worse. A repair-related diminished value claim is when car repairs were completed improperly, creating a further loss in the value of your vehicle.
These types of claims will seek additional compensation to offset the additional loss in value.
Immediate
Although seen rarely, this kind of claim seeks financial compensation right away before repairs are made. In Bridgeport, residents use their cars regularly to get to work and school, run errands, and seek entertainment, but most insurance policies cover a rental for a few days or weeks until your car is repaired and safe to drive.
In an immediate diminished value claim, the car has not been sent for repairs before the amount is paid to the car’s owner. Immediate diminished value claims are typically only seen when the ruling in court requires immediate action from your insurer.
Connecticut Permits Diminished Value Claims
All states in the US — except for Michigan — allow for some diminished value claims if another driver was at fault. In Connecticut, diminished value claims are permitted so long as the fault is that of a third party and not the person making the claim.
Diminished value claims are paid through an insurance company. They completed their calculations and, in turn, proposed the amounts that victims should recover from the loss of value of their cars.
The Stigma Behind Repaired Cars
Online car valuation services like Carfax inadvertently created a stigma in the late 1990s where any damaged car that was subsequently repaired from a crash was worth less. Carfax is an online report of all accidents and a car’s history.
For this reason alone, selling your car for what it was worth before the accident is sometimes impossible. Although not all agree that the value of a car is compromised after a wreck, an accident may make buyers weary and present additional difficulties in selling their car in the future.
Steps to File a Diminished Value Claim
An experienced diminished value attorney knows the steps to file a claim successfully. Most cases follow these steps:
- Research the pre-accident value of your car based on its make, model, year, and overall condition. One excellent resource used by many is the Kelley Blue Book.
- Review and apply Connecticut’s diminished value claim laws to your case (also called a diminution of value).
- Contact the at-fault party’s insurance company and confirm that diminished value is part of their insurance policy.
- Calculate the amount of diminished value with your attorney.
- Request a diminished value assessment from the insurance company if the negligent party has this kind of coverage as part of their policy.
Is Filing a Diminished Value Claim Worth It?
No one wants to lose money after spending thousands to purchase or lease a car. Collision and comprehensive Insurance compensation might not be enough to make you whole, and for instances like this, people opt for diminishing value coverage.
Filing this kind of claim can be worthwhile if you meet Connecticut’s requirements.
How to Prove Diminished Value After an Accident
Calculations to determine the diminished value of a car may be complicated. The insurance company will determine the post-collision value of your car, calculate the base loss and structural damages, and add any needed multipliers to get to the final number.
Involving a Third Party in Negotiations
During negotiations, you may have more leverage with your claim when a third party completes an inspection report. In many cases, this strategy leads to higher payouts as more than one party concludes with the same proposed diminished value.
Involving a third party might also be in your best interest if you suspect that your insurance company is pushing a low-ball offer. A third party will reassure you that you were offered fair compensation per your insurer’s policy terms.
Keep In Mind Connecticut’s StatuteStatue of Limitations
Connecticut residents who plan to file a personal injury claim have two years to file a court case. Filing a case within such a short time does not leave much room for a claim’s preparation, submission and review, negotiations, and settling.
Victims of a personal injury case must seek legal advice as soon as possible to optimize the time to reach a better settlement as the statute allows.
How Burt McDowell Injury Law Can Help
Seeking expert advice when you believe you should receive compensation for a significant loss of value is a great way to get started. Speaking to the right Bridgeport personal injury lawyer will assist you in calculating how much you are owed and how you can move forward to receive the compensation for the total value of your vehicle.
At Burt McDowell Injury Law, our team has worked on finding solutions for similar cases for many years. With our help, we will work towards ensuring that you receive what your claim is worth.
Bridgeport Diminished Value Claims Law Firm
Car accidents come with harsh consequences in their wake, including the potential loss of value of your car. If you were in an accident and find yourself in a situation where your car will only sell for less than before the crash, you may have a claim.
Finding out that your car is worth less than it was before because of an accident is devastating for anyone to hear. But, it does not have to stay like this if you request compensation for diminished value.
Don’t let an insurance company pressure you to settle for little to nothing. Reach out to Bert McDowell Injury Law today.
Our team is ready to meet with you and complete a comprehensive case review. You may reach us by calling (203) 590-9169 or by submitting an online form to schedule your free case review today.
Just remember, if you need help with your case, just bring on Bert.
(203) 690-1030
