I’m looking for input on how to handle a frustrating situation after a recent accident.
Earlier this month, another driver was deemed 100% at fault by the police report (they were negligent — driving violation code was documented on the report per my insurance company). My vehicle struck their vehicle, so even though the police report clearly assigns fault to the other party, their insurance company may still dispute liability or push the claim into arbitration simply because my vehicle made contact from behind in the collision sequence.
I pulled a post-accident Carfax on my vehicle and was shocked to see it now shows “severe damage reported.” Repairs came to roughly $17,000, yet no airbags deployed and the only reason it was towed was because the bumper was pushed in and rubbing on the tire. The vehicle has been professionally repaired.
Pre-accident NADA clean retail was around $70k, and comparable vehicles in my area were easily trading in the $65k range. Now, even after repairs, Carfax lists clean retail at only ~$60k and trade-in under $52k — a massive hit to the value.
I’ve requested the police report and am scheduling an independent diminished-value appraisal. My main questions:
Earlier this month, another driver was deemed 100% at fault by the police report (they were negligent — driving violation code was documented on the report per my insurance company). My vehicle struck their vehicle, so even though the police report clearly assigns fault to the other party, their insurance company may still dispute liability or push the claim into arbitration simply because my vehicle made contact from behind in the collision sequence.
I pulled a post-accident Carfax on my vehicle and was shocked to see it now shows “severe damage reported.” Repairs came to roughly $17,000, yet no airbags deployed and the only reason it was towed was because the bumper was pushed in and rubbing on the tire. The vehicle has been professionally repaired.
Pre-accident NADA clean retail was around $70k, and comparable vehicles in my area were easily trading in the $65k range. Now, even after repairs, Carfax lists clean retail at only ~$60k and trade-in under $52k — a massive hit to the value.
I’ve requested the police report and am scheduling an independent diminished-value appraisal. My main questions:
- Should I wait to see if the at-fault driver’s insurance accepts full liability and reimburses my carrier completely, or should I go ahead and file my own third-party diminished-value claim (police report, repair bills, before-and-after comps, independent appraisal, etc.) as soon as my documentation is complete?
- Any dos and dont’s, common pitfalls, or specific steps I should take (or avoid) to maximize my chances of recovering fair diminished value?
Last edited:
