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Yeah, I realized that as soon as I got home, & called the cops an hour later, no help. Problem is, an accident like that, it can be hard to think everything thru on the spot--it becomes almost surreal, like in slow motion. Also, the scrape looks bad in that close-up I posted, but when I look at the car from even 2 feet away, I have to really focus on that area to even see anything.
I could pursue her ins. co., but she was too out of it to tell me the name. After going thru the dues with ins. companies for the last 2 accidents (the other drivers 100% at fault), schlepping the cars back & forth to body shops, I really don't think it's worth it.
For a 10 y.o. car, right now I'm not seeing this "bumper scrape" as a battle worth taking on.......p.s., this is in E. Mass., if you want to get your nice (or crummy) cars bashed by nutty drivers, bring 'em here......
Thanks to everyone for the advice!
Always report to Police because you may be reporting the location of a stolen car or owner for a warrant.
Kirstie is only credited with an assist in making you look like a fool. You need to take credit for your own input......
Since there's a 30-minute window during which you can edit your own posts, one might have considered attempting the emotorcon placement before declaring it unsafe. :shades:
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Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
fezo: (tell jimbres that I apologize for not hitting reply)..."Kirstie is only credited with an assist in making you look like a fool. You need to take credit for your own input"...so, you're sayin' that I did a good job myself...hey, who would have thought to try the emoticon and then edit it in 30 minutes... :confuse:
I filed with my own insurance (Allstate) because the other driver's insurance (Safeco/Liberty Mutual) refused to use OEM parts. The difference in price was $400. By refusing the initial estimate with OEM parts, Safeco paid for my rental car for 4 weeks, my deductible, plus Allstate will subrogate them for the cost of the repair. Needless to say, Safeco will pay significantly more than if they had approved the initial estimate with OEM parts!
Now, I'm looking for advice/tips on the best way to collect some diminished value. I bought the car brand new and have only put 20k miles on it. Now it has been in an "accident" and been repainted. I talked to a professional appraiser and I have a ballpark estimate on what to ask for. Do you think I'm better off paying $325 for the full appraisal or trying to settle with the insurance company bringing no "third-party proof" to the table? Another possibility is to file a small claims suit against the other driver.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
I do however, encourage you to try for it, since it does represent a real world loss for you.
Altho the concept of diminished value has existed since the first collision, the concept of beng compensated for DV is relatively new...good luck with this...
I can tell you though that the type of car, the type of damage, and the amount of damage, are all big factors in the DV argument. For gross comparisons:
2010 Ferrari with $30K damage, including frame/suspension = massive DV
2010 Kia with $3000 damage to exterior body panels = no or very minimal DV.
Each of these examples might represent approx. 1/5th of the car's value in damage, but the effect on market price is totally different.
For a quicker resolution, you can always forgo the diminished value claim with an insurer and take the loss against income taxes you owe. Still, you will have to substantiate your loss and will need the services of an expert to do that for you. Despite insurer’s obstinacy to the contrary, diminished value is owed where a loss can be proven, and those who are persistent stand the best chance of being paid.
Because your car was vacant, Safeco isn't interested in doing any more for you because there isn't a potential bodily injury claim to consider. Prepare to be stonewalled, ignored, & dismissed.
As luck would have it we were both insured with American Family so dealing with them was rather awkward. I had been with them for several years with no claims but they treated me like dirt on this accident. I had to fight them tooth and nail but finally was satisfied. Canceled their butts on next anniversary.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Pretend that a building has 2 wings that are not supposed to communicate with each other (Chinese wall) but their computers are connected so they can sneak a look at each other anytime they want to...that is how I think of an auto insurance company...one wing is the liability portion (the part of his insurance that covers your damages) and the other wing is your insurance (collision, comprehensive, medpay, rental car, etc.)...
Your portion will usually try and take care of you fairly well (exceptions, Safeco, Safeway, Southern General to name a few), but the liability side is out to screw you any which way they can...
Someday, the Insurance Commissioner's daughter will be treated like crap by one of these liability companies, and THAT may get him/her off his/her fluffy a** and crack down on these rotten companies...
They have a the most extensive information regardng Diminished Value and referrals in most states to one or more Diminished Value appraisers. You will need an independent appraisal but most DV experts will only charge $99 to $199 for the appraisal (not $325). They should also provide supporting data for the figures they quote to substantiate the DV claim. Only do business with a DV appraiser who charges a flat fee, NOT a percentage of what you collect! Also, look for a money back guarantee and/or what role the appraiser is willing to play in negotiating with the insurance company.
Good luck!
Why? Not all claims are the same so why not charge a percentage fee? The larger the prize, the larger the commission fee. A DV Claim can be complicated due to unusual circumstances which deserve more than the flat fee.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
(Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore)...
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I will say that, having moved from St. Louis, this area's drivers are not necessarily better, but they are more courteous when they pull their shenanigans.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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Doggone it, terrible news about tidester. He was without a doubt my favorite host here and he will be missed. I still can't believe that he is gone.
If I could hand pick someone to take over this forum for him it would be you. There are some tough hombres here and they need a firm hand, so I will take your recent post here as a good sign.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Not really about accidents, but some of the info posted by consumers on Edmunds.com helped out with this story.
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Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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Now, frame damage, doors that don't close, hoods and grills that are replaced, that might affect the alignment of the vehicle's components, but scratches on a bumper that are repainted just do not seem, to me, to be something that breaks the threshold of major damage...
appraiser trade organizations would you estimate there are out there?
Usually the DV fee is a flat rate. It can of course be based on the TYPE of car, as some cars can be harder to research---and also things like the date of loss---if the appraiser has to come up with archival pricing information, that can be tedious.
The victim is a retired person, who got strike by a US Postal vehicle, I just learned yesterday of his ordeal. He cant afford to fixed his car, and after reading the police report is very clear that the postal worker is to blamed.
Right now I'm in the same luck. I don't know were to start helping my friend, this claim should be filled against who ..? US Postal service Office or the US Postal Employee,, How it works.?
Any help/orientation is appreciated.
Thank You.
P/S: Victim vehicle is from, Easton PA.
US Postal vehicle is from Phillipsburg NJ
Postal driver is from PA
If he doesn't have UI coverage, his insurer is still the best place to start. Hopefully, they will go to bat for him, even if he only has basic liability coverage. The statute of limitations is definitely two years or more for this kind of situation, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Does he have the insurance information for the postal vehicle/driver?
"If he has Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (Property Damage) coverage, it should pay for his repairs minus deductible"...therefore, he would pursue his own COLLISION insurance to pay for his damages, less the deductible...
However, there MAY be a problem...many ins policies have a clause that states that they must be notified of any accident within 30 or 60 days of the incident, or else they will not be legally responsible to pay any benefits at all...if that clause exists in your policy, and if they invoke it, you may find that your own insurance does NOTHING for you, legally, and that you must pursue the postal vehcile...
I would assume that you could notify the postal service (the information would probably be on the police report under the "ownership" portion) and possibly deal directly with them...when I handled a postal accident some years ago, I dealt directly with the post office department assigned to deal with vehicle accidents...the legal principle, I believe, would be "respondeat superior" where you deal with the "employer company" (Post Office) that owns the vehicle...if lawsuit must be filed, you would probably sue the driver directly (at least, here in GA) along with the employer, but that COULD wind up in Federal Court, I am simply not sure...
As far as a 2 years statute of limitations, that varies by state...GA is 2 years, but I am told that South Carolina is 3 years and Alabama is one year...different states can have different time periods...
One thing I am sure of...never wait that long to make a claim, as the wreck happened in 2009 and it is now 2011...
Good luck with this...
Nah, I just made that up