2012 Prius w/SPORT Package SMASHED in Accident

I did when I had the supplement for the repairs. The supplement put the repairs at 10.5k so all the free estimates would now be off as the repairs actually ended up being 13.5k. Even at 10.5k though all the estimates were above 5k for DV. While you are pleased with your repairs I have gripes about mine. There are flaws in the body work, sport emblems that couldn't be found to replace the original ones I had, a rattling sound inside the cabin and under the hood etc. All things that on top of having frame damage would increase the diminished value amount

I'm waiting on State Farms DV offer before I pay any out of pocket expenses like hiring a DV appraiser, but if and when I need to I have decided on collisionclaims.com as the company I want to hire.

Diminished Value Appraisals - Collision Claim Associates, Inc.

You may have more local options, like an actual "property (vehicle) appraiser," unfortunately for me the only 2 people I found in my area that do that can't help; 1 has conflicting issues with it because they know the owner of the body shop I used and also in large their company has some kind of deal with State Farm and the 2nd just didn't respond to my phone call or e-mail.

I would avoid using any company that would charge you for a "desk appraisal." In the past I have done one for a previous accident, they didn't take the appraisal seriously because no one came out to physically look at the car.

I'm trying to avoid hiring someone because it does cost $395 and if State Farm comes close to what the free estimates said I can save that money. Of course if they are far from it, which I expect them to be, I plan on telling them what the free estimate said for a value and also sending them yet another document with photos of all the cars tell tale signs that is has been in an accident and is no longer the car is use to be. If that doesn't get me the amount I want then I will hire a DV expert and they will do as I have done only it will be official and some even use a paint meter (and my car has been nearly completely repainted.)

 

Have you been seeing a chiropractor at all? Were you hurting after the accident?

 

While i dont condone insurance fraud or people faking injuries, its always a good idea to get checked out. I was hurting and now get frequent headaches, i am also now 3 months later experiencing dizzy spells. Which for me is unusual as I rarely have any sort of issue at all. I'm the type of person that doesn't have a primary doctor because I don't generally need to make a visit.

I spoke with a lawyer and he said what I've heard many times before; its hard to make up for your property loss, but the personal injury portion usually covers what you lose out on in property.
That link I sent is for a free estimate, there are also a few others if you just google diminished value. Let me know how it pans out for you.

 

You would be correct, they saved themselves about $4k by not totaling it. But spent a whole lot of their employees time, body shops time, insurance reps time, and more of the insurance reps time because I sent in a lot of e-mails and made a lot of phone calls. $13.5k spent on repairs, $1.5k spent on rental, and $6k spent on DV. A little over $21k spent on a car that they valued at about $25k. Chances are with how much time all of the insurance companies employees spent in dealing with me, coming to see the car, and answering e-mails and phone calls they about broke even.

 

I completely agree with you there. I always seek chiropractic relief after an accident because I tend to get minor to major headache, can't sleep and back/neck pain. Even from minor accidents this can happen. A lot of people don't realize they can seek out treatment and not have to pay a dime for it; chiropractor, therapist etc. If the person they see are experienced in car accident injuries they will see you for "free" and once the treatment period is over they will submit the bill to the at fault parties insurance company.

Keep in mind that you can only make a valid claim within a certain time frame. I'm not sure if varies by state, but generally you have 1-3 years to seek treatment and file a Personal Injury claim.

 

I believe trauma can bring forth under lying issues. What I dont understand is how the doctors missed it, maybe you should be after them for answers.

 

It's been nothing but problems since the accident. There are clips on the rear bumper and one day I was driving down the road and heard a very loud noise on the drivers side, I thought someone threw a huge rock and hit my car. Turns out the clips popped off. Being that the repair work is under warranty for the time I own the car I stopped back into the shop and he was dumb founded and had never seen anything like it. Probably because the bumper is pinched on (you can see it bows out in the corners from being forced fit).

The at fault parties insurance paid me out 6K in DV, not sure if I ever updated anyone on that info. They spent closer to 24K for repairs, DV, and rental, and the Prius at the time was valued at about 25K. Idiots.

I'm still looking to get rid of it, but decided because I bought the warranty and wouldn't get very much back from it, especially now that I've had to use it, that I will drive it for another year+ until the 60,000 mile mark and by then I'll have paid off another 6k ish and just get something used because of the last 3 new cars I've bought, they have all been hit by idiot drivers.