JohnnyCake

Generally you can not get diminished value from your own insurance company as most policies exclude it. If you want to sue the other driver, and can present expert testimony or other credible evidence establishing the diminution in value, you could recover that amount. You would have to sue now or before the statute of limitations expired. Mostly, it is not going to be worth it given the cost of presenting expert testimony, attorney's fees, cost of collection, etc.

rawr2is250

Sorry to see that happen, but glad you're okay.

JETII

Thanks for the heads up on diminished value. Got it to the body shop late Friday...I plan to go and talk to them on Monday. I want to make sure they are using OEM parts and plan to replace the quarter panel, bumper.

tromly

I agree with your estimate 5k at most.

Solman

A good body shop that will use oem parts on the rear quarter, bumper, and wheel should be in the range of $6k. The roof adds a lot of labor to this repair. Very tricky. Definitely go for diminished value-it is ligitimate. Right now you will see posts advising members to avoid cars that have been in an accident. Unfortunately that describes your SC now.

JETII

I talked to the drivers insurance adjuster about diminished value. She told me to get two quotes from a legitimate dealer.....one for what it would sell for prior to the accident and one after. Hendrick owns both Lexus Dealerships in my area. I talked to one of the preowned car managers and he told me legal would only allow him to give me what it is worth after the accident.

Any suggestions on how to get someone to give me the two quotes?

Thanks - JETII

DarthSid

Try approaching CARMAX. Couldn't hurt to ask.

JETII

Well, it's been over two months and I still don't have my SC back. Body work took longer than expected because of issues with color matching, etc.... Once they got that right then it was off to Lexus for the alignment work and that's were more fun started. After I picked it up from the first alignment things didn't feel right and the steering wheel was not straight. I took it back to Lexus and they told me the alignment didn't hold. They realigned it and when I got on the highway it felt very loose. Back to Lexus and they thought maybe one or more of the bolts (sorry I don't have the details) might be slightly bent causing the issue so they replaced all 5. They can get the alignment within spec by tightening the adjustments to a max point but the car feels unstable at medium to highway speeds. The body shop called the insurance adjuster that Lexus wants to replace the cradle (around $1,400) and they told them since the alignment is within Lexus tolerance they would not approve the work. I called the adjusted and asked them how they could deny the work when the technician and the service writer drove the vehicle and stated it was unstable. It’s now back in the hands of the person denying the work.

430keeper

What a mess....this is why people are nervous about buying a car that was in a wreck.
There can be things wrong even when new parts and new paint are applied. An impact
sends a shock wave through the whole car...the electrical connectors, the welds, the
bushings, the bearings, the hinges, etc. Sometimes after they're repaired, they just
"feel" different. What year is your car ? miles ? If it were just a bit worse, they would
have totaled it. Best outcome, push the insurance co. to fix it and then drive the car
for a long time. Carmax will give about $4500 for the car....after its fixed!

bacardi11

iTrader: (1)

don't like to see pictures like this.

JETII

2002 with 56K on the clock. Didn't hear anything from the Insurance Co on Friday. Looks like the war starts on Monday.

FYI - the first offer on diminished value was $1K then they came back two days later offering $1,800.

ShawnOk

iTrader: (1)

Good Luck! Such a nightmare...

pvong713

I'd cry like a baby if someone hit my car. I put some hard earn money into this car. Also, my blood, sweat and frustration to fixing up my very first purchased car.

JETII

UPDATE - Insurance Adjuster approved the additional work and the parts are ordered. Work should be completed this week.