The insurance companies hate to talk about loss in value claims, but if you bring it up with your carrier they should go after the other carrier for you. They should retain a specialist in your behalf to assess the lost value due to the repair. Worst case you'll have to hire your own specialist and file a claim against the other driver and his insurance company. What ever you do, make sure you reserve the right to make any loss of value claims when you get your car fixed. They will ask you to sign a waiver of all claims acting like thats the only way to get your car repaired There is a one year statue to file a claim in court for physical damages to your car. They love to keep "negotiating" with you and hope the time runs out. You can file the court papers yourself, you don't need an attorney. I told them my wife was an legal assistant so I had no costs to pursue them. I got the car fixed and a check for 10k on top of that.

 

Wow.... thanks for the feedback, I am tied up with work right now and other personal stuff so I wont get to take care of my car for another week or so but it's nice to get this kind of feedback a head of time.
Craig

 

Wow...another great feedback I am really pleased at all the feed back I getting from everyone thank you again.

Craig

 

Excellent information I had no idea that you could pursure a loss of value claim, but it makes perfect sense and I believe fair as well. Case in point I sold my 2000 SL500 last year with 38K miles for $15K below trade-in value based solely on the accident, that hurt, but on the same side I don't blame the buyer the car had been damaged and repaired.

Thank you very much I will follow-up on this.

 

Well just found out today the guy that caused the accident doesn't have enough coverage to repair all the cars involved...so I need to go through my insurance and they will try and get my deductable back. But with that said I have to find someone that will do the repairs to there labor rates, GEICO. So far everyone of the places that operates within there labor rates I get bad reviews. They gave me another place to check out Fenders Autobody in Sunnyvale anyone have experience with them? Thank you in advance. Craig

 

I thought California State law required insurance companies to repair at the shop of your choice, regardless of labor rate.

 

From what I have found out is you can take it to any shop you want but if it is over there estimate you eat the amount over....nice If anyone can point me to facts that contradict this information I am listen but it seems they got me by the short hair here.

 

can't u sue the other driver for the difference? or at least get ur insurance to do that?

 

That really sucks Craig. Having the same crap to deal with on the Wife's XJR....

 

Sure you can but the person has to have assets to cover the costs, in this particular case the individual is a resident of Mexico, possessed a Mexican driver license and insurance. The Mexican driver license isn't recognized by California but his insurance company is paying up to the maximum of the coverage. The poor guy behind me is the real loser in all this his car was totaled, a two year old Infinity IS3000. From what my insurance company is telling me the two claimants will negotiate with the payee on which percent goes to whom, as long as I get my deductible $500 dollars I guess I should be happy it could have been much worse if I was the one he ran into first!

 

Oh my God! I have nightmares about your situation. I'm so sorry. The bain of living in California. Foreigners without adequate insurance.

I think there is an elephant standing in the room right now...

 

So let's all think about this, an illegal alien drives in this country without a valid drivers license or insurance and who get the shaft, the people he runs into, and they feel lucky they got paid part of their loses. If you did this in Mexico you would currently be in jail until you made full restitution. Why don't we enforce our own laws. No driver's license, no insurance......go to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200 in welfare payments, and when you get out you get deported on the spot, no long trial, no appeals by Maldef or the ACLU. Here's the best part of all this. Go look at your insurance bill. You'll see a line equal to about 50% of your premium for "uninsured motorist". Basically your paying for the insurance of those who don't feel they need to.
The insurance industry (the one we love to hate), volunteered to put a real time insurance coverage data base in every DMV and law enformance agency in California. DMV and law enforcement would be notifed immediately if someone didn't have insurance "real time". Guess why they declined this offer...invasion of privacy issues. The next time some dead beat with no issurance invades the privacy of your passenger cabin with his front bumper...think about it.