Car accidents often result in bodily injury and property damage, lowering the value of your car. Even though it might seem like you have no recourse, a car accident does not necessarily mean you’ve lost your car’s value. By filing a diminished value claim, you can get back a car's value lost following an accident.

But how does the process work, and what can you do to help make sure you have success when filing a claim?

What is a diminished value car insurance claim?

If you find yourself involved in an accident with your car, then your vehicle might have a diminished value after the

repair process

. The difference in the value of your car before the accident and after its repaired represents the diminished value of a car.

Fortunately, in many states you can file a diminished value claim with the at-fault party's insurance, and even your own insurance in some states. Every state except Michigan allows you to file a diminished value claim with the insurance of the at-fault driver, and if you live in the states of Georgia, Kansas, and Washington, you can file such a claim using your own

collision coverage

If the other party does not have insurance, the following states also allow you to file a diminished value claim against your own uninsured motorist coverage:

Alaska

Arkansas

California

Delaware

District of Columbia

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Louisiana

Maryland

Mississippi

New Jersey

New Mexico

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

How to file a diminished value car insurance claim

Proving the reduction in your car's value following an accident and getting the other party's insurance to pay up represents the hardest part about a diminished value claim. And while making a diminished value car insurance claim might seem difficult at first, by following the following procedures you might experience more success when making a claim.

Get an appraisal: Start by finding out the market value of your car. Find the market value of your car by visiting sites such as

Edmunds

Kelley Blue Book

, or

NADAguides

Trade-in value letter: According to

carinsurance.com

, attorneys recommend getting a trade-in value letter stating that the car has a lower market value due to the damage suffered in an accident, even after repairs.

Approaching the at-fault party's insurance: Approaching the at-fault party's insurance might require some persistence on your part, and you might need to approach them multiple times to get a definite answer. In addition, don’t accept outright the amount the other party’s insurance company presents to you. Make sure it’s the right amount first.

An inspection by a automobile damage claim company, such as

ASI Claims

and

Collision Claims

give your diminished value claim more credence and might help you get the settlement you are looking for.

Go to court: A final step involves taking the offending party's insurance company to court. The biggest part in deciding whether to do so or not rests in the amount of the claim. While many claims might fall underneath the threshold for taking the case to small-claims court, if you need to hire a lawyer, you should consider letting the claim go. For a newer or more expensive car, though, you should consider taking the matter up with the courts if necessary.

Making sure that you get the most out of your car includes protecting its value, even following an accident. While sometimes the at-fault party's insurance covers the diminished value of your car, you might need to rely upon your own collision or uninsured motorist coverage to cover it.

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