Winter Park, FL (PRWEB) June 18, 2008 — In response to consumer demand, on June 2, 2008, Advocate Auto Claims ramped up personnel and expanded its daily hours of operation. The company, which opened its doors to the public in April 2008, can now be reached Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EDT, and around the clock at www.advocateautoclaims.com. “Through our affiliate company, we had been providing services exclusively to fleet owners and car rental companies, but we recognized the need to educate consumers about their rights and expand our operations,” said Omar Quddus, President and Co-Founder of Advocate Auto Claims, LLC. “Consumer response to this service has been phenomenal.”

Advocate Auto Claims specializes in what are called diminished value claims. “If you’ve ever sold a car that’s been in an accident, you know from experience that it’s simply not worth as much as the same car with an accident-free history,” said Quddus. This phenomenon is called “diminished value,” and the at-fault or third party’s insurance company has an obligation to compensate the driver who was not at fault for this difference in market price. “Unfortunately, most consumers aren’t aware that they are entitled to diminished value compensation – and insurance companies don’t volunteer that information,” said Quddus.

Few would argue that the concept of diminished value is intuitive. “It’s commonplace – and common sense – for used car buyers to check a vehicle’s accident and repair history using an online service like CARFAX or AutoCheck,” said Quddus.

Yet insurance companies fight tooth and nail to keep from paying these diminished value claims, often putting even knowledgeable consumers in an untenable position. “Each insurance company has its own internal procedures, and there is a maze of regulations and legal loopholes that vary from state to state,” said Quddus. “The burden of proving diminished value is always on consumers, and they simply don’t have the experience to get the compensation they deserve.”

This is precisely why Advocate Auto Claims has opened its doors to consumers. While drivers can pay out of pocket for a vehicle inspection or a diminished value report, Quddus’ company specializes in handling every aspect of diminished value claims – and does so on a contingency basis. Advocate Auto Claims is able to do this because their affiliate company has a 10-year track record of success in working with diminished value claims on behalf of fleet owners and rental car agencies.

It’s likely that, each year, millions of consumers don’t file the diminished value claims to which they’re entitled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that police officers reported close to six million traffic crashes in 2006 (the latest year for which statistics are available). “Although car owners routinely file insurance claims for car repairs and injuries, they almost always overlook the long-term impact that an accident will have on their vehicle’s value,” said Quddus.

Although drivers not at fault are usually in the dark about their rights, Quddus is determined to shine a light on diminished value claims, and Advocate Auto Claims stands ready to insist that consumers get the compensation they deserve. “The process of establishing diminished value and then negotiating the proper compensation is both an art and a science,” Quddus says. “We’re committed to supporting each and every consumer whose vehicle suffers from diminished value after an accident.”

About Advocate Auto Claims, LLC:
Advocate Auto Claims, LLC is the industry leader in processing diminished value claims on behalf of the public. With expert knowledge of state-by-state and federal caselaw, legislation, and regulatory rulings – as well as insurance company procedures – Advocate Auto Claims is uniquely positioned to successfully pursue diminished value claims throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit http://www.advocateautoclaims.com.

For more information, contact:
Laura Betterly
Media Spokesperson
(866) 596-6011

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Advocate Auto Claims
Laura Betterly
866-596-6011
E-mail Information: pr@advocateautoclaims.com

Technorati Tags: diminished value, insurance claims

The squeal of tires. The sickening sound of metal grinding against metal as you lurch forward in the driver’s seat. As you climb out of the car, you’re shaken – but thankfully you and the driver who hit you are not injured. Unfortunately, the same isn’t true for your car. Even after you endure the hassle of dealing with insurance companies and the inconvenience of taking your car in for repair, the bottom line is that your car simply isn’t worth as much. “The resale value of a vehicle with an accident history is considerably less than a comparable vehicle that’s never been in an accident,” says Omar Quddus, President and Co-Founder of Advocate Auto Claims LLC (www.advocateautoclaims.com).

This phenomenon is called “diminished value,” and the at-fault or third party’s insurance company has an obligation to compensate the driver who was not at fault for this difference in market price. “Insurance companies are required to restore a vehicle to its pre-loss condition and value,” says Quddus. “Unfortunately, most consumers aren’t aware that they are entitled to diminished value compensation – and insurance companies don’t volunteer that information.”

That’s the reason Quddus is on a mission to educate consumers about their rights, and why Advocate Auto Claims pursues diminished value claims on behalf of drivers who weren’t at fault in accidents. “Even when consumers are aware of the diminished value issue, they’re often ill-equipped to handle the roadblocks that an insurance company will throw at them,” he says. “Each insurance company has its own internal procedures, but those procedures can vary from region to region.” Similarly, the laws and regulations governing diminished value differ greatly from state to state.

The maze of regulations and loopholes, as well as the harsh stance taken by auto insurance companies against diminished value claims leaves consumers with few options. “Consumers may be involved in an accident once or twice in a lifetime; they simply don’t have the resources and knowledge to get the compensation they deserve,” says Quddus.

This is precisely why the owners of Advocate Auto Claims, who have more than 10 years of experience working with diminished value claims on behalf of fleet owners and rental car agencies, have opened their doors to consumers. While drivers can pay out of pocket for a vehicle inspection or a report to substantiate their claim, and an attorney may pursue such a claim in conjunction with a personal injury case, Quddus’ company handles every aspect of diminished value claims – and does so on a contingency basis. “The process of establishing diminished value and then negotiating the proper compensation is both an art and a science,” Quddus says. “We pride ourselves on our ability to get results, and don’t expect to be paid until you do.”

For more information about Diminished Value, please visit www.advocateautoclaims.com

Technorati Tags: auto insurance, auto repair, diminished value

• Is your vehicle worth more than $5,000?
• Was the damage more than $1,000?
• Did the accident happen within the last 4 years?

If you answered yes to the above, then click here to get FREE information.

How can we do this?
Because we handle more diminished value cases than anyone else. We deal with insurance companies and make them pay us every day, and we have tools not available to the average consumer that will enable us to recover that money for you.

Remember, this is money that you will probably not be able to get yourself unless you’re trained in this area. For sure, they see you coming, and they can handle the average consumer and not pay you or pay you substantially less than what you deserve. We’re so confident that we can recover your Diminished Value claim that we don’t get paid unless you do.

We aren’t trying to sell you a report, an inspection, or anything else. We do ALL the work, and only get paid if we recover money for you.
Click here for more FREE information.

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Regardless of what others may tell you, collecting Diminished Value from an insurance company can be a difficult and lengthy process. You should utilize the services of a professional Diminished Value claim specialist. The actual process will vary on a state-by-state and case-by-case basis. While the principle of Diminished Value has long since been recognized by law, the insurance industry has gone out of their way to not pay consumers for this legitimate loss. For years, the auto insurance industry has lied about owing for this loss and, more recently, has even enlisted the aid of Departments of Insurance in various states to keep from paying this loss to policyholders. With our assistance, there are still opportunities for you to collect full value for the Diminished Value of your repaired vehicle.

Don’t waste your money on a report. Call now at (866) 596-6011 or click here to get your FREE Diminished Value estimate.

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