Did you know even after repairs, your car may still be worth less after an accident?
This is called diminished value, and you might be able to get money from the insurance company to make up for the difference.
Here’s how it works:
Before the accident: Your car has a certain value.
After the accident: Even with repairs, your car might be worth less. This is called the diminished value.
Your insurance policy will typically give you right to be reimbursed for the difference between the diminished value and what your car would be worth if you had not been in the accident. Your insurance company will not offer this to you unless you invoke your rights under your policy. That’s where we come in.
Collision Safety Consultants can Help!
We’re independent experts who can assess the damage to your car and determine how much value it lost. We do this for a flat fee and work directly with your insurance company to resolve your claim.
We specialize in:
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Diminished Value Claims
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Total Loss Valuations
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Pre-Purchase Inspections
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Post-Collision Repair Inspections
We work for you, not the insurance company, to ensure you get a fair deal.
Types of Diminished Value
Immediate: This is the difference in what your car could be sold for before the accident and what it’s worth now.
Inherent: This is the value lost simply because your car has been in an accident, even if perfectly fixed. Many buyers prefer cars with no accident history.
Repair-related: This happens when repairs are done poorly, and your car isn’t as safe or reliable as before. A proper inspection can help prevent this.
FAQ: Getting the Most After an Auto Accident
What is diminished value, and how does it affect me?
Diminished value is the decrease in your car's market value because it has been in an accident and repaired. Even with perfect repairs, a car with a repair history may sell for less than a similar car without prior damage. This is called inherent diminished value.
There are other ways repairs can further decrease your car's value:
- Repair-Related Diminished Value: This happens when repairs are poor quality. Maybe the paint doesn't match perfectly, or there are rattles or leaks. These imperfections can make buyers suspicious of more significant underlying damage and lower their offer.
- Insurance-Related Diminished Value: This occurs when the insurance company's repairs don't fully restore your car's value. They might use cheap parts or cut corners on repairs, leading to diminished value.
If you're concerned about diminished value, Collision Safety Consultants can help. Call us today at (855) 648-8800 for a free consultation to discuss your specific situation.
How can I tell if my car has diminished value?
Several factors can affect diminished value, including:
- Age of the car: Older cars with higher mileage generally have less overall value to begin with, so diminished value might be less significant.
- Severity of the damage: More extensive damage will likely lead to higher diminished value.
- Quality of repairs: Poor repairs significantly increase diminished value.
Unsure if your car has diminished value? Don't wait! Call Collision Safety Consultants at (855) 648-8800 today. Our specialists can review your case and help you determine if you have a claim.
How do I collect diminished value from the insurance company?
Unfortunately, collecting diminished value from insurance companies can be a complex and lengthy process. They often try to deny or minimize diminished value claims. Here's where Collision Safety Consultants can help:
- Diminished Value Claim Specialists: Our team has the expertise to navigate the process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
- Expert Documentation: We'll gather evidence to support your claim, including repair invoices, appraisals, and market data on similar cars without accident history.
- Negotiation and Advocacy: We will negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to ensure you receive a fair settlement for diminished value.
Don't let the insurance company undervalue your car! Call Collision Safety Consultants today for a free consultation and get what you're owed!
Mark Minor2024-08-26It's great to have an advocate like Tim and the team on your side when dealing with a difficult insurance company and claim. Things greatly accelerated when Tim and the team became involved. Don't wait for a difficult insurance company to do the right thing, reach out to Tim to see if they can assist.
Zach Zee2024-08-13CSC is soooooo worth it! Back in February 2024 our mint, clean and VERY nice 2022 CRV AWD was hit by another driver. Repairs were made but I knew the value of our car would suffer greatly upon trade in, which is has. Because of this, I started doing some research and came across CSC, I emailed them around April or May and Tim P. from the DMV location got back to me and told me what I needed to do. I sent over all the required documentation to him, paid the fee and he took care of the rest and fought this for me long and hard! The first offer was $2200, then the insurance company was playing hardball and said $1600!!!!!! How do you go DOWN??? Tim fought this for me and got us $4600!! A number I think is both fair and realistic. I would definitely use them again god forbid I am in this situation again. Id leave Tim a 10/5 stars if I could! CSC is legit and am so thankful this is all behind me now! Thanks again! -Zach
Vance Morris2024-07-18Was referred by my body shop to you guys. They got me $6000 more than the insurance company was offering. Do NOT trust your insurance company, let Tim and his team get you the most money possible.
sean balile2024-06-20Working with Tim Pfeifle was an excellent experience. He was very responsive and did a great job guiding me throughout the entire process. Tim was very hands-on in dealing with the insurance company of the car that hit mine, and he helped me get over $12,000 back! I highly recommend his services!
Joe Russo2024-06-05Tim at Collision Safety Consultants was great to deal with, he gave me confidence in my dealings with the insurance company after my truck was totaled. Unfortunately I had made some decisions before working with him that meant he wasn't able to help me in the end. After coming to that conclusion, he offered a full refund of my money. These guys are honest and legit. Hopefully there won't be a next time, but if there is, I'll make smarter decisions and engage with them earlier.
Hamza Bhatti2024-06-04My vehicle was stolen and eventually recovered. Eventually the vehicle was considered a total loss I was recommended to speak with Tim by a friend of mine. Tim has been extremely professional, very quick with responses and got me a much higher settlement then the insurance company had originally agreed to. Tim and CSC are the real deal and I will be recommending them going forward to any friends and family that go through a similar situation as me. 10/10 excellent customer service and Tim is extremely good at what he does. Thanks again!
Justin Greene2024-06-03Helped me get the full amount due in a time of need
Richard Mungo2024-05-13Great experience working with Tim! Saved me more money than i even thought possible! I highly recommend making this phone call for a appraisal if you have been offered anything from your insurance company, im glad i did.
Jeffrey Glow2024-04-27Collision Safety Consultants is absolutely hands down the best at what they do. They prepared a diminished value evaluation for me. Farmers Insurance offered $1200 DV for my 2019 Lexus 450H with less than 25k miles. Tim and CSC went to work and got me 4K. $2800 more than Farmers original offer. Thanks Tim and CSC for being the voice for the people against the insurance industry!
zineb boudiar2024-04-25Tim was great to work with from start to finish. The process is smooth and quick, and I highly recommend him if you need to claim a diminished value for your car.