• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Law Offices of Jonathan G. Stein Logo
(916) 247-6868
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Organizations, Publications and Presentations
  • About You
  • Practice Areas
    • Debt Collection
    • Estate Planning
    • Personal Injury
    • Landlord Tenant
  • Client Testimonials
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Brochures
    • Helpful Links
  • Contact

Three things you must know about property damage

December 11, 2014 by Jonathan Stein

Most of my posts are about injury claims. Why? Because that is what most people do not understand. Fixing a car is, for the most part, a simple process. You bring the car to a shop of your choice, the estimator writes an estimate, the insurance company agrees on a price, and your car is fixed. Voila! But there are three things you must know about property damage claims.

First, if your car is a total loss, you get fair market value for your car. If your car is a total loss, you are entitled to obtain the fair market value of your car. This is not set by the insurance company. You are entitled to see the vehicles they are looking at to figure out the price! If you cannot figure out what the fair market value is, or how to calculate it, call me. I am happy to explain the process, and you can hire me to do my own calculations for you. 

Second, you are entitled to a rental car. When your car is a total loss, they will try to limit the length of time that you get a rental car. They have to pay for one for a reasonable time after the accident. Demand your rental car! Even if your car is repairable, they have to pay for a rental car. If you do not rent a car, they owe you loss of use – what it would have cost you to rent a car if you had chosen to do so.

Third, if you are going through the other person’s insurance company and your car is damaged, they may owe you for diminished value. Diminished value means you could have sold your car for a certain amount prior to the accident, but now you have to sell it for less because of the damage. Very few attorneys will tell you about diminished value. Even fewer will pursue it for you. But there is a claim out there and it could be worth some money. 

Just because it is your car does not mean that you do not have rights. Even if you were not injured in the accident, you are entitled to reasonable compensation for your property damage. If you are unsure about what you are entitled to or how to recover for these damages, talk to an attorney who handles property damage claims. 

Categories: Auto Insurance, Claims, Consumer Issues, Current Affairs, Insurance Operations, Law, Myths Tags: auto accident, auto crash, bodily injury, car accident, car crash, diminished value, documentation, fair market value, motor vehicle accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle crash, MVA, MVC, personal injury, pictures, property damage, rental car, rental insurance, total loss, what to do after a car accident, what to do after a motor vehicle collision, what to do after an accident

Primary Sidebar

Sign Up For Our Newsletter Below

Lists*

Allow Me to Help You

    Footer

    Contact Us

      Practice Areas

      • Debt Collection
      • Estate Planning
      • Personal Injury
      • Landlord Tenant
      The information contained in this website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any matter. The transmission and receipt of information contained on this Web site, in whole or in part, or communication with The Law Offices of Jonathan Stein via the Internet or e-mail through this website does not constitute or create a lawyer-client relationship between this firm and any recipient. You should not send any confidential information in response to this webpage. Such responses will not create a lawyer-client relationship, and whatever you disclose will not be privileged or confidential unless this firm has agreed to act as your legal counsel and you have executed a written engagement agreement with The Law Offices of Jonathan Stein. The Law Offices of Jonathan Stein © 2023. All rights reserved. | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer