Diminished value

You would first look at the value of your car when its in good working condition. A great place to find this at Kelley Blue Book:

http://www.kbb.org

You can also choose different options on the condition of the car and such for a better take on the actual value. The value is obviously going to be subjective, so its up to you to determine the value based on how much its worth compared to what is damaged and how badly damaged. You should be able to get a ballpark amount from doing this.

I was able to get the amount, I called the insurance company and they asked for me to send them something from my lawyer, I do not have a lawyer so what now? Do I really have to get a lawyer for this? They are jerking me around....

I suppose perhaps a lawyer can better answer that question, although I would say it matters what type of accident it was, and what damages you are trying to claim.

It does seem sort of odd that they are asking for a lawyer, as though they are planning on fighting the claims against you. This is your own insurance company asking, right, not the other person's? If it is your own, ask them if you really need a lawyer.

The whole situation seems a bit weird, though. Usually they will send someone out to your car to assess the damages themselves, as they are the ones who determine what percentage is to be taken off the value, or whatever. It doesn't make sense for you/your lawyer to do it, as you can tell them it's value is at 95%, for example, when really the car is trashed.

It is the other persons insurance company. I have already been paid for the repairs and they have been made.

My understanding is that now that the repairs have been made I should be filing a diminished value claim because if I wanted to sell my car, since the accident is on the car fax report, it will lower the value of the car, even though the damage has all been repaired.

I thought so! I spoke with my insurance company and they told me to call the other insurance company! I thought that they should be handling it for me.... Everytime I call her she just tells me what to say to them when I call them. I spoke with her today about the diminished value claim and I told her what the guy said to me about getting a lawyer and she told me to call them back and talk to the supervisor! Maybe she is just being lazy, maybe I should call HER supervisor!

I contacted them, they told me to have my lawyer contact them about it, I asked my insurance comp to handle it, they wouldn't. Whatever.