Auto Accident – Do You Need an Attorney?

May 11, 2016By Justin Petty
Auto Accident – Do You Need an Attorney?

Do you need an attorney for your auto accident?

Answer the question for yourself!

Let me start by saying that some people never need an attorney, and others will always need an attorney.

Additionally, this article is based on my 15 years of claims adjusting experience. I have developed a simple little formula that will help you decide if you need an attorney or not. Keep in mind, this quiz is tailored for auto accidents only, and I make no warranties or guarantees that your result is a foolproof answer.

Ultimately, the only person that can decide if you need an attorney is you.

With that being said, simply answer the following 15 questions and then add up your answers. All of these questions are yes or no questions. Whatever answer you have the most of is your answer to the title of this article.

Take Justin’s Quiz to find out!

Diminished Value in Texas – How Does It Compare?

April 27, 2016By Justin Petty
Diminished Value in Texas – How Does It Compare?

Dealing with Diminished Value in Texas

If you have a repairable collision claim in Texas, then you may be entitled to recover for your vehicle’s diminished value. In Texas, if you file a third-party auto claim, then if your claim meets certain standards, you would likely recover diminished value if the case went before a jury.

Diminished value in Texas compares to other states in this capacity through the negligence law rules.  

In Texas, if one is over 50% at fault for a loss, then they cannot recover damages from a less negligent party.

The kicker is that if they are only 10% at fault, then that 10% can be deducted from their damage amount. Some States have a law that applies negligence in a pure manner.

For example: if you are 10% at fault, then you owe 10% of the other person’s damages. If you are 61% at fault, you can still recover 39% of your damages.

The point, and to answer the question in the title of this article, is that YES you can get paid for diminished value in Texas.

READ MORE ABOUT DV CLAIMS IN TEXAS!

WHAT’S THE MADE WHOLE DOCTRINE & WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ANYWAY?

March 31, 2016By Justin Petty
WHAT’S THE MADE WHOLE DOCTRINE & WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ANYWAY?

Made Whole Doctrine: Are you being preyed upon?

Insurance companies count on vehicle owners not knowing about the law, specifically the made whole doctrine.  They use the lack of knowledge by the layman to prey on accident victims for profit.  Right now, many of the accident victims that are reading this article are being further victimized by their own insurance company, and many times the adjusters that are doing the victimizing have been indoctrinated to believe they are doing the right thing and that they are within the law.

Let me be very clear here:

Insurance companies routinely steal money from their own customers through improper and illegal subrogation activities.

ARE YOU AFFECTED? CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!

INVALID DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM DENIAL – 8 Unfair Examples

January 22, 2016By Justin Petty
INVALID DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM DENIAL – 8 Unfair Examples

If you’ve had the displeasure of being in an accident where your vehicle was repairable, you’ve probably experienced a loss in the resale value of your vehicle, no matter how well it was repaired.

Additionally, in the vast majority of cases the insurance company that is responsible for settling the claim with you gives you an unfair and invalid diminished value claim denial.  In my view, the denial of these valid claims is an act of fraud.

If it is fraud, then why doesn’t the insurance company get in trouble for it?

The primary reason is that there are very few attorneys and even fewer accident victims that really understand the denials.  Because of that, it is difficult for the accident victim to defeat the illogical and unlawful reasons that insurance companies use to deny diminished value claims. 

I thought long and hard about what I could do to help accident victims get fair compensation for lost value, and outside of preparing an appraisal for them and directing them to an attorney that will take their case, the best I can do is to educate.  So that is exactly what I will do right now!

I’ve already published one article that gives some responses to common denials, but in this post, I am going to pull out the stops and address every denial reason I can find, and provide all the proper reasons why the denials are invalid, improper, and in most cases, fraudulent.

READ ABOUT THE DENIALS YOU MIGHT RUN INTO

Auto Dealer Quotes & Diminished Value – The Solution

January 21, 2016By Justin Petty
Auto Dealer Quotes & Diminished Value – The Solution

If you are attempting to recover damages as a result of diminished value, you will undoubtedly be required to prove your loss.

This can be very difficult for the average accident victim. Can you just call around and get auto dealer quotes to prove your loss?  

Knowledge of the proper methodologies and form for presenting valid supporting data eludes most laymen.

As a former licensed adjuster and current owner of a claim services company, I can attest to how hard it is to document diminished value in a credible manner.

Spill The Beans!  

How Do I Prove My Diminished Value?

READ MORE FROM OUR EXPERT!

Auto Accident: Third Party Claim and Myths About Adjusters

January 6, 2016By Justin Petty
Auto Accident: Third Party Claim and Myths About Adjusters

What is a third party claim and what do you need to know?

Anytime you’re involved in an auto accident and it was not your fault, you potentially have a third party claim.

If the at fault party has liability insurance, then when you file a claim with their insurance company and you have a third party claim.

I have read quite a few articles that give a lot of bad information about adjusters. The thing I have noticed about those articles is that none of them were written by an insurance adjuster!

I’d be willing to bet that if you have not been an insurance adjuster, then you believe insurance adjusters are almost as bad as used car salesmen or attorneys, hehehe. It is a common view. I can’t speak for every single insurance claims office out there, but I can say that I have worked for 5 different non-standard companies as an adjuster, and I have worked on contract for many standard companies as a recovery specialist with a firm.

I have never been instructed to deny any valid claim, nor have I been advised to “low-ball” claimants.

This might happen at some companies, but it is definitely not the norm. Insurance adjusters (if they care about their license) will usually try very hard to fairly resolve claims.

I will say that I have definitely dealt with some companies that have some “questionable” practices.

I won’t name names, but some of these companies simply attempt to cut costs by hiring inexperienced adjusters and giving them a “rule-book”.

It is the inexperience of the adjuster in interpreting the “rules” that causes the majority of the issues.

FIND OUT THE UNWRITTEN RULE AND MORE – CLICK HERE!

3 Biggest Arguments Against Inherent Diminished Value Dispelled

July 13, 2015By Justin Petty
3 Biggest Arguments Against Inherent Diminished Value Dispelled

Diminished Value Denials: How The Insurance Company Is Lying To You

The vast majority of insurance adjusters have had no formal training in valuation appraisals.  

The unfortunate fact of the matter is that insurance adjusters work for an insurance company and are forced to work within the policies of the company they work for.

Unfortunately, insurance companies train employees and adjusters to deny diminished value claims, even if the evidence is overwhelming. 

It is such a rampant practice that they even provide adjusters with several arguments to use and most companies provide form letters that make silly arguments about why they won’t pay for diminished value. 

Here are the three most common arguments carriers use against diminished value and the breakdown of why they are not valid defenses to inherent lost market value claims.

SEE THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST DIMINISHED VALUE

More Wins! $2000 on 2013 Chrysler 200 Diminished Value

February 26, 2015By Jen Petty
More Wins! $2000 on 2013 Chrysler 200 Diminished Value

2013 Chrysler 200 Limited S

LOCATION: McKinney, Texas

Our client, Ed, started his claim out the right way and that was by doing his research about 2013 Chrysler 200 diminished value while his car was still in repair and requested a free consultation with us right away.  

Chrysler 200 diminished value

He was fighting with an insurance company that was open-minded about being fair when giving him an offer and a little back and forth on his end got him a settlement of $2000!

READ ABOUT ED’S SUCCESS!