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Auto Insurance Claims/Insurance - partial claim

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Expert: Charlie Barone - 5/4/2009


Question
hi,

I own a 1999 car, the rear bumper had scratches which I created while parking etc. the paint was pealing off..today a lady hit from behind when I was yielding for cross traffic.. it created few more scratches and not sure if inside there is crack...COP came and we exchanged the insurance...but the other person and COP was not happy with me trying to claim insurance (was trying to see if added more damage than I had)..not yet claimed.. how to do partial insurance claim? I need to separate out my personal expenses so that I should not be cheating the other person with whole claim..

Answer
Get an estimate for the repair of the rear bumper. Then have the shop deduct that amount of the repair costs that would account for the pre-existing damage, also known as betterment. Once the betterment has been deducted, then you are only claiming the amount the person that hit your rear bumper caused.

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Charlie Barone

Expertise

For questions involving auto damage claims, collision repair, forensics, industry practices, we can help. We specialize in claims for loss of resale value (Diminished Value).

Experience

I have 30 years experience in the collision repair and body reconstruction field, both hands-on and from behind the desk. I hold a Master Certification from ASE in the Body and Paint category, as well as their certification in Estimating. I have authored over 120 feature and training articles for the largest trade journal devoted to the collision repair industry, and have given expert testimony in court dozens of times. Licensed physical damage appraiser in Pennsylvania and reciprocal states.

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