Virginia law allows up to 5 years to bring a diminished value claim.  If you were in a car crash that was not your fault and your car was damaged and repaired within the last five years, this means you could have a valid diminished value claim.

If the crash was not your fault, your car was damaged, and you did not have a personal injury claim, it is very likely the other driver’s insurance carrier just paid for the repair. If the other driver’s insurance carrier did not send you a release for property damage, you can bring a diminished value claim against the other driver as long as you are within the 5-year statute.

Most insurance carriers whose drivers were clearly at fault just pay for the repair. This results in quicker claim resolution, less time using substitute transportation, and lower cost to the carrier. As diminished value claims increase, more insurance carriers may begin to require that releases be signed prior to authorizing repairs.