Ben's Blog 
Dealing With The Insurance Adjuster
A Property Damage Claim Following a Fairfax Accident is a Real Big Pain
One of the most common questions people have following a Fairfax car accident has little to do with personal injury and a whole lot more to do with property damage. While thousands upon thousands of accidents occur in the Commonwealth of Virginia each year, not all of these collisions result in injuries. Instead, they cause damage to the vehicles involved.
If you are facing a property damage claim after your accident, unfortunately we don’t have the best news for you. You see, most people are often not fully compensated for their vehicles. The reason? It’s not necessarily that the insurance companies are trying to “stiff” you or be unfair. In actuality, the reason these claims are frequently paid at a rate that is lower than most people expect has to do with the depreciating value of the vehicle.
You may have spent $20,000 on your brand new car. However, as soon as you put the key in the ignition and drive off the lot your value has just dropped. The vehicle that you have just forked out $20,000 for is now worth $15,000.
The same concept applies in property damage claims. You will not get fully compensated for the amount you spent on your car. Real value and perceived value are not the same thing.
So, what can you recover in a property damage claim after a Fairfax accident?
When your vehicle is damaged, but not totaled, you should be able to recover the reasonable cost of repair and the diminution of value now that the car has been in an accident. A repaired vehicle is worth less than what it was worth before the crash.If the cost to repair the vehicle is higher than the reasonable value of the car, then all you are going to get is the value. You will have to surrender the title to the insurance company and will then have to purchase another vehicle.
While we can help you walk through the property damage process with the insurance company, it is not always cost effective to hire a Fairfax car accident attorney.
Get the help you need from a Fairfax car accident lawyer
For more information on how we can help you with your claim, especially the personal injury part of your case, contact us today at 703.591.9829.Be sure to order your copy of the book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim, by calling us or filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page. The book is FREE to Virginia residents.
