Diminished value help

[Gkwan]

Hello all,

Thanks in advance for any time/help you are able to provide. A month ago someone sideswiped me, resulting in needing to get my front driver side door replaced and rear door repaired (~11k). The work done was great, and Liberty Mutual (the other party's insurance) took care of that, but now they are trying to tell me this accident doesn't qualify for a diminished value claim. I disagree, as I checked and there is an accident on my Carfax now. I'm curious to hear other people's experience here. Also, if anyone is willing to share specifics that I can use as examples/evidence, shoot me a DM.

The story about the accident is kind of wild, but I didn't want to distract from the above. But here it is now. I offered to chauffeur another couple to a dinner with my wife and I (I like driving my car, and didn't feel like drinking). I approached an intersection where there was a left turn only lane and a "right or straight" lane that was green and I wanted to go straight. The person waiting to turn left had an opening, and as I past them they decided to make it a ""trucker left" for no reason, and swung into me. They didn't need to swing wide, and every time I see someone do this it drives me nuts. I didn't mention that the other couple in the car are both lawyers, who immediately sprung into action. The first sent a voice to text to us all naming the license plate number and establishing a timestamp. The other got out their phone and started snapping pics of the other car. I was already 1/2 through the intersection and had to continue, and I saw the other car complete their left and stop 50-100 yards down the road. I U-turned, but was unable to legally get back to the other car (other cars in the way). I saw the other person wait for a little bit and then take off! I tried to catch up, but no luck. When I stopped to examine the damage, another car pull up behind me. I guess they watched the whole thing and followed me. They had a dash cam (though, so did I), and offered to act as yet another witness. I called it in to the cops as a hit and run. Then, 2 days later in the morning I get a call from one of the two passengers. They think they are following the same car again! We confirm the plate and they follow the person into a gym parking lot... that I had just left less than 5 minutes ago. I U-turn and we both confront the driver (who was agitated they were late for a class). They claimed they didn't see who they hit, and thought the other car drove away. Sure. I got name/insurance. I never found out if the police did anything...

Can't help as I'm French but I can only tell you that in France you'd have to suck it up as probably no one would have helped / gathered proof & you can always try to call the cops but they won't do anything unless someone is hurt.
So somehow "lucky" vs the same event in France !
Good luck to you.

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[Crick]

How did you convince USAA not to subrogate their repair payout to the at-fault insurer?

A little clarification here.
The at-fault driver (Car A) had the CA minimum liability coverage: $10,000

There were two damaged cars: the car between the at-fault and my car (Car B) and my car (Car C).

Damage to Car B was $12,928.72 (the totaled vehicle value).
Damage to Car C was $33,188.01
Diminished value claim for Car C was $24,898.00
Total: $71,014.73. WAY over $10k.

Car A insurance company proposed this (where CSAA is Car B):

Car B accepted this proposal immediately.

I wasn't happy with it so counter-proposed this:

Car A insurance didn't care one way or the other how their $10k got split

So I called USAA. They had already paid for the repair of Car C (my car).

I have been with USAA for over 40 years. No accidents. No claims. I buy uninsured motorist coverage. I simply asked if the uninsured motorist coverage would pay for S33,188 in damage to Car C. They said, "yes."

So I asked USAA if Car A insurance didn't pay USAA anything, would it cause a problem. Since my claim was made and paid by uninsured motorist, it was a horse-a-piece for USAA.

I asked that USAA send Car A insurance a notice that USAA was withdrawing all subrogation rights and close down their claim. It took USAA six weeks and many follow up call from me, but it worked out in my favor.