Wife just got rear ended. She's ok, but she's driving our 2010 Jetta Sportwagen TDI that I haven't made a single payment on.

To top it off it doesn't look like the great state of Mexas allows for Dimished Value compensation.

:-):-):-)
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I am glad to hear you wife is ok :-)

Sucks about the car, but it can be repaired/replaced. Your wife cannot be replaced.
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I hate when that happens.
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You are right it can be repaired/replaced. I'm glad the wife is OK and thankfully she did not have my 11 month old daughter with her.

But still, cmon! let me at least own something nice for once in my life without someone else fu<king it up!
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That sucks, but I'm glad that no one was hurt.
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Wife says head/shoulder hurt a bit. They are still waiting for the cops to show up.
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Sorry to hear about the car, but thank the Lord your wife wasn't hurt.
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My wife got in a wreck recently and two days ago we got out diminished value check...$47, you're not missing that much.

Glad she is ok and be really glad she didn't cause it or your premiums would raise to add insult to injury.
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The most important item is that your wife is ok and probably is feeling the energy transfer between both vehicle in the upper back area'. She will know more later this afternoon or this evening (definately tomorrow morning).

If you're in the area or close by, it would be handy to have some actual photo's of the damages to both vehicle. That will come in handy later on if negotiating a BI settlement with the insurance company.

Make sure she at leasts secures a license plate number of the vehicle responsible for the accident. Of course, the local police report will have that information too.

Again, glad she is ok...:-)
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She's got previous back damage from when an APD MotorCycle cop sideswiped her (his fault).. so I'm sure this will aggravate that.
I told her to take some photos of the 'scene', all she has is her camera phone but I don't know how those will turn out.
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I believe it's galled gap insurance you are talking about. If you buy a new car and don't get it, then you shouldn't buy a new car IMO. This way, the car you drive off the lot and it loses 20% of its value, you are covered for the amount of the loan and not the retail value of the car at the time it's wrecked.

Hope your wife is ok.
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I have GAP.

Diminished Value is compensation for the fact when you go to sell the vehicle it's worth less because it's not all factory condition. The bumper may not be OEM (if they replace it) and the paint may not be a precise match. (I've seen some real bad paint work). To top it off the wreck will forever be on carfax.

In MOST states they'll compensate you for the fact it would be worth less after the wreck, apparently TX isn't one of those states that requires compensation for such things.
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Ok, I was thinking if it was a wreck that was bad enough that it totaled the car, you would get shortchanged on what the insurance company would write you a check for compared to what you actually owed.

Never heard of the diminished value aspect, but I guess it just makes it all the reason more to drive it til it dies now.
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This is why there should be ENFORCED laws on cell phone use in the car.
Ten will get you twenty the rear-ender was yammering away on a phone
that for most of my life was wired to the wall in your house. Don't get me
wrong, cell phones are great, if they are turned off in the car. These things
should be used for emergencies only while driving. And then it would be nice
if people would pull off the road. But all this freedom up front is going to
make it nearly impossible to EVER enforce this going forward.

I can hear it now..."$hi+...I just rear-ended some dumb lady that stopped in front of me."
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Auto Claims Manager for many years here.
Are you in Texas?
Texas has diminished value and can be claimed.
However, only from a third party carrier, not yours.

Recommendation:
Use a shop recommended by your carrier and guaranteed for life.
If carrier that hit you takes responsibility and has the same referred shop/guaranteed work and is a large carrier, go with theirs if you wish.
Either way, have your work guaranteed by the company. They will have to keep doing it as long as they don't get it right.

On diminished value, I denied all the ones that came across my desk. Reason is it is not different than the stock market and your portfolio. You don't have a darn thing until is is realized. Until you sell your car, no lost value.
If you sell your car now, value is great.
If you keep it for five years and sell it then, your diminished value is a small portion of what it was when new.
It will be a booger to argue but in Texas, much easier than other states.

Good luck.

Glad all are OK.
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[quote=OLS;888989]This is why there should be ENFORCED laws on cell phone use in the car.[quote]

Just passed in Washington state if you are talking with the phone to your head or texting in your car you will be pulled over and ticked and if you are under 18 (i think) no hands free equipment can be used. I like this new law.
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[quote=Lear31MX;889004][quote=OLS;888989]This is why there should be ENFORCED laws on cell phone use in the car. I'd be ticked if I got pulled over as well. :-)
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Glad to hear your wife is okay. Keep an eye on her for a while just to be sure she stays that way.


Good Luck!
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Good luck to you and your wife with all of this -- hope everything turns out OK and that she is not injured!
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[quote=forgop;889005][quote=Lear31MX;889004] ops, oh well you get the point.
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