Filing diminshed value claim help

I would fight this as hard as you can. Chances are the truck is going to be labeled on the Carfax as structural damage/major accident. Not even the strong market right now will help a truck labeled with that. Even though the truck can be repaired to 100%, most buyers will run far away from a truck like this.

Many lawyers(who specialize in this) will at least hear out your case and be upfront if its worth them representing you or not. Insurance companies don't want to deal with lawyers and litigation as it cost them $$$$$.

 

As far as I know, it's the insurance adjusters who determine if a vehicle is totaled - Not the Body Shop but I may be wrong about that.

To the OP, get the truck fixed, sell it if you're not comfortable driving it, buy another truck and don't drive in front of you Brother anymore (OP got rear-ended by his Brother).

Oh, and be sure to start maybe four or five more threads on the same topic

 

I'm surprised they didn't total out your truck. I know totaling a car doesn't sound very fun but I'd rather have my truck totaled then having to deal with months worth of repairs, diminished values and suffering possible issues in the future caused by the collision.

 

Do we need a BST rule for under 50 posts? Buy / Sell / Thread?

 

Tbh I don't think its worth the effort. I was involved in a front end collision last year which was 100% the other drivers fault in NJ. I spent an entire month and $500 of my own money getting a DV inspection and appraisal as well as trade-in values from dealerships, sent everything to the other party's insurance and they pretty much told me to go fuck myself. Unless you're prepared to take them to court, don't bother. Sorry.

 

I will always fight for DV in future accidents, that aren't my fault. I had my 2019 BMW hit, I filed with my insurance company and let them handle the repair claim with the other person's insurance company. After I got my car back, I emailed their insurance agent and said I want to failed the DV claim and they forward me to another person. I bought an appraisal that showed my DV was $6100 and emailed them the report. They took a week or so and came back with a low ball offer $2750, we went back and forth a few times then I just said I will proceed with filing a claim in small claims court. They came back with $5000, almost double the original offer, and I accepted.

I did my research on the small claims court and everything involved, where to file, how to file and what to do to prove my case if I actually went in front of the court. I was fully prepared to file and was a little disappointed that they came back with a reasonable offer. I've attached a PDF that I got from the appraisal company that might be helpful.

 

Go get your truck appraised by a couple of 3rd parties giving them 'frame replacement' and the amount of the damage. Take that quote to the Insurance company as 'proof of concept' for your negotiations.