The Problem Nobody Talks About
Here's something that's always frustrated me about my industry. Most personal injury law firms only care about your injury claim. They'll fight for your medical bills and lost wages — but when it comes to your car? They tell you to 'handle it with the insurance company yourself.' That's a problem. Because insurance companies are lowballing your vehicle's value just as aggressively as they're lowballing your injury claim. And nobody's fighting for you on that front.
What Is Diminished Value — And Why Does It Matter?
After your car gets repaired, it might look perfect. But here's the thing: that accident is now on your Carfax. Permanently. And 39% of car buyers won't even consider buying a vehicle with accident history — at any price. That means your car just lost 10-25% of its value. That's called diminished value, and the at-fault driver's insurance company owes you that money. Most people don't even know this claim exists. That's by design.
Total Loss? They're Underpaying You Too
If your car was totaled, the insurance company uses a system called CCC ONE to determine what your car is worth. Here's the dirty secret: CCC ONE systematically undervalues vehicles by $3,000 to $10,000. They pick comparable cars from distant markets, ignore your vehicle's specific options and condition, and present their number as if it's final. It's not. We challenge every total loss valuation with real dealer transaction data, auction results, and certified independent appraisals. Our clients recover an average of $6,500 more than the insurance company's first offer.
Why We're Different
LawyerUp is the only personal injury firm in Utah — possibly the country — that handles both your injury claim AND your property damage claim at the same time. While our injury attorneys are fighting for your medical bills and pain and suffering, our certified vehicle appraisers are fighting for your car's full value. Diminished value. Total loss disputes. Rental car recovery. We handle all of it. No other firm does this. I built it this way because I got tired of watching my clients get screwed on their car claims while I was winning their injury cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a diminished value claim?
It's the loss in your car's market value after an accident — even after perfect repairs. The accident on your Carfax reduces what buyers will pay. The at-fault driver's insurance owes you that difference. Typical recoveries: $3,000-$8,000 for standard vehicles, $8,000-$20,000+ for luxury cars and Teslas.
My lawyer said they don't handle property damage. Is that normal?
Unfortunately, yes. Most PI firms only handle the injury side. They leave the property damage to you. That's why I built LawyerUp differently — we handle both, because your car matters too.
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