Your Car Was Repaired.Who Pays for Its Lost Value?
Even after professional repairs, an accident can substantially reduce your vehicle’s resale value. You may be entitled to compensation for this loss.
Free initial case review • No recovery, no attorney’s fee.
Repairs Fix the Damage. They Don’t Erase the Accident History.
Your vehicle may look and drive like it did before the accident, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth the same amount. Buyers and dealers often pay less for a vehicle that has been in a collision - even when the repairs were done properly. That remaining loss in market value is called diminished value.
If another driver caused your accident in Iowa, that driver’s insurance company may owe you compensation for this loss in addition to paying for repairs. A paid repair bill does not necessarily mean you have been fully compensated. If the accident left your vehicle worth less, that loss deserves attention, too.
But you need to know to ask. Don’t assume the insurance company’s repair payment includes diminished value or that the adjuster will raise the issue for you. You need to make the claim and support it with evidence showing how the accident affected your vehicle’s market value.
That evidence may include repair records, photographs, vehicle history reports, market comparisons, and a professional diminished value appraisal. The amount depends on your vehicle’s age, mileage, condition, prior accident history, and the extent of the damage.
I help Iowa vehicle owners gather the evidence, submit diminished value claims, and pursue payment from the at-fault driver’s insurer. Contact me to get your claim started.
START WITH A FREE CASE REVIEW
A few details about your vehicle and repairs are all we need to begin. We'll review your information and contact you about next steps.
Free initial review, with no obligation
No documents or lengthy explanations needed
Your inquiry stays private
No recovery, no attorney’s fee
Please do not send confidential information at this stage. Submitting an inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship or mean your claim has been accepted.
Experience Representing Insurers. Now Working for You.
Paul F. Tomkins
Iowa-licensed attorney
Forrest Tomkins PLLC · Ankeny, Iowa
A former attorney for major insurance companies, I’ve spent the past two decades fighting for thousands of people in insurance disputes. I know how insurers evaluate claims - and how to fight for yours.
Put my experience to work for you.
Prior outcomes do not guarantee future results. Each matter is evaluated individually.
Common Questions
Eligibility, deadlines, recoverability, and available remedies depend on the facts and applicable Iowa law.