Image Credit: Vlad Deep/UnsplashA woman has claimed that she learned an automotive lesson "the hard way" after having an accident and then claimed that she lost money by filing the wrong type of insurance claim. TikTok user Eli (@eliroadhelp) took to her account to outline the situation to other drivers.She claimed that drivers could be leaving money on the table should they not ask for a certain kind of claim. "Do not close your car accident case until you've requested this one thing," Eli said in the text overlay on the video. The claim in question is a diminished value claim.Eli said that most people have probably never heard of this claim. This is something car insurance companies tend to overlook, unless the driver in question asks for it. Ensuring you have this part of a claim filled in could help you reclaim some of the vehicle's value.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs vehicles can lose a lot of their value if they are involved in an accident, this can help a lot of people recoup some of that money back. In a world that seems to get more expensive by the day, every dollar helps.What Claim Is It That Car Owners Should Fill In?The claim in question is a diminished value claim. In short, if a car is repaired correctly after an accident, it could be worth less due to now having accident history. That is more true for newer, or higher-value cars, even if the repairs are to the same standard as the factory. The difference between the original value and the new one is what is called 'diminished value.'A diminished value claim can help you get that loss back. It does, however, depend on a few factors. According to Kelley Blue Book, drivers can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver's insurer. That can vary state-to-state depending on how it is regulated. If you believe the car has lost value after the crash, it is best to raise the issue before the case is closed, according to lawyers.Of course, not every claim of this nature will be approved. Some claims will just not be successful; the car could be too badly damaged, and the vehicle in question might not qualify for the claim. Those that are older, with higher mileage, or involved in minor incidents are unlikely to have a diminished value claim approved. For a more expensive car that is quite new and potentially even very high-end, you are more than likely to see the claim approved.Some Claims Can Be SuccessfulImage Credit:Evgeny TchebotarevAs Eli stressed in her video, "insurance will never bring it up on their own," referring to the claims. With her video reaching 3.1 million people at the time of writing, there is a high likelihood a lot of people will be able to make good use of her advice. Thankfully, it does appear that a good few people have got their own claims approved, as some commentators recounted tales of success.AdvertisementAdvertisement"You are 100% correct," one said. "I went back and got over $400, and you have two years to get it done in the state of Georgia." Another one, however, had an even bigger success story. "Yes, so true," they said. "I received an extra $2,300 after my claim." Others lamented not knowing about this sooner, with one saying, "I wish I had known this when I was in an accident in 2024." So if you didn't know about it, it might be a good idea to note it down just in case you are ever involved in an accident.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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