Diminished Value After a Fort Worth Crash
Short answer: Yes, if the other driver caused the crash. Your own policy won't pay diminished value.
What diminished value means
Diminished value is the gap between what your car was worth before the crash and what it's worth after proper repairs. A car with a reported accident on its history report usually sells for less, even when the repair is perfect. Newer, low-mileage and higher-priced cars lose the most.
How to prove the loss
- Get the final repair invoice and photos of the damage before repair.
- Get a written diminished value appraisal from an independent appraiser who uses local sales.
- Pull listings for the same year, make, model and miles with and without an accident history.
- Send it all to the adjuster with a written demand for a specific amount.
When it isn't worth chasing
Older cars with high miles, cars that already had an accident on record, and very minor cosmetic damage often have little provable loss. An appraisal can cost a few hundred dollars, so weigh the likely number first.
Fort Worth resale market
Fort Worth has a deep used-car market along I-35W and Loop 820, which helps you: there are usually enough comparable listings to show what a clean-history car sells for. Pull listings from Tarrant County dealers, not national averages.
Fort Worth contacts after a crash
Fort Worth police take crash reports inside the city. On I-35W, I-20 and Loop 820 outside the city, Texas DPS troopers or the Tarrant County Sheriff may respond instead. Once the officer files the CR-3, TxDOT usually posts it within about 10 business days (getting your report).
Hospital ERs: JPS Health Network (John Peter Smith Hospital), Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, Medical City Alliance, Texas Health Alliance.
Start with the Fort Worth first-steps checklist.
Common questions
Will my own insurer pay diminished value?
No. Under Schaefer (Tex. 2003), the standard Texas policy doesn't cover it. Claim it from the at-fault driver's insurer.
Can I claim diminished value on a leased car?
Usually the leasing company owns that claim. Read your lease and ask the lessor.
Want a lawyer to look at your case for free?
If you were hurt in a crash that wasn't your fault, in Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas, you can ask for a free consultation. A trusted local attorney will contact you promptly and evaluate your case for free. There's no cost to ask and no obligation.