If you have a non-fault accident in your car and it sustains damage, there’s a good chance that a potential buyer will be put off when you come to sell it.
Would you want to risk your hard earned money on a new car if you found out that it had been in a bad accident and had to be repaired? At the very least, you would expect to pay less for the car to factor in that it had been in an accident.
As a seller in this situation, you must accept that you will have lost money as a result of the accident. This loss is called Vehicle Diminution.
What can you do about it?
Third Party Fire and Theft and Fully Comprehensive Motor Policies do not cover this loss, so the bad news is that if the accident was your fault, you cannot recover the money you have lost.
The good news is that if the accident was the fault of another driver, you can look to claim your loss from the insurers of the driver of the responsible party.
What do you need to do to ensure that you recover the full amount of this loss, as quickly as possible?
- Take the full details of the driver at fault for the accident.
- Take some photographs of the vehicle in its damaged condition.
- Ensure that your car repairs are carried out at a reputable, approved repairer.
- Make sure that your vehicle is returned to you in a good condition and that you are happy with the quality of the repair work. If the car has not been repaired to a good standard, it makes it near impossible to assess the reduction in car value.
- Request a copy of the full repair documentation, including all estimates, reports and invoices to include a list of parts and labour work carried out.
- A motor engineer will be required to assess the loss in car value. When the engineers inspection takes place, make sure that the vehicle is clean both inside and out, and provide plenty of access space around the vehicle to make it easier for the engineer to complete their inspection.
- Seek legal advice. The knowledge of an experienced Solicitor can make the difference between an insurer arguing that Vehicle Diminution does not apply, and you maximising the level of remuneration you can achieve.
If you feel like vehicle Diminution could have affected you, please contact Oakwood Solicitors for a free consultation on the services we can offer to you.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
For a FREE initial consultation, call our expert team on 0113 200 9720, or contact us online here to discuss how we can help you.
