At Auto Equity Experts, we help not-at-fault drivers recover fair value for their vehicles after accidents. Here's a data-driven overview of the U.S. auto accident landscape, including total losses, not-at-fault scenarios, and often-overlooked losses like diminished value.
Real market prices showing how much value is lost when a vehicle has an accident on record.
Hover over bars for details.
Market values from proprietary data (5,500+ listings). Accident impact varies by vehicle age, mileage, and category (10-20% based on CARFAX/NADA industry data).
Same vehicle, different prices. See how location affects what you pay across 7 major US metros.
Hover over charts for details.
Proprietary data from 7 major US metros (200-mile radius each). 2024 model year, ~20K miles.
Average Additional Payout
$4,464
more than initial insurance offers for our users
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A "total loss" (or totaled vehicle) occurs when repair costs exceed a certain percentage of the vehicle's value (typically 60-80%, varying by state and insurer), leading the insurer to declare it uneconomical to repair.
In most multi-vehicle accidents, fault is assigned to one party. Not-at-fault drivers may have grounds for a diminished value claim against the at-fault driver's insurer if their repaired vehicle loses resale value.
The share of claims resulting in total losses has trended upward in recent years, reaching record levels in 2024-2025. Key reasons include:
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), complex electronics, and higher labor/part prices make even moderate damage expensive. Average total cost of repair exceeded $4,730 in 2024 (+3.7% YoY), with ADAS calibrations/scans now common on many estimates.
Declining used vehicle values (adjusted averages down in recent periods) and an aging vehicle fleet mean more vehicles cross total loss thresholds.
Supply chain issues and inflation have historically pushed repair costs higher, making insurers more likely to total vehicles.
Result: Total loss rates climbed from around 17% in 2020 to over 22% recently, contributing to higher claim severity and insurance premiums.
Standard auto insurance pays Actual Cash Value (ACV) for totaled vehicles—typically based on comparable sales data, minus salvage—not full replacement cost (new equivalent vehicle price, taxes, fees, etc.).
Diminished value refers to the permanent loss in resale/market value of a repaired vehicle—even if repairs are perfect—due to accident history (often 10-25% of pre-accident value, with average settlements around $1,500 or 10-25% of fair market value).
Despite this being a valid claim in most states (against the at-fault party's insurer), few recover it because:
Many drivers don't know diminished value exists or that they can file a third-party claim.
At-fault insurers have no incentive to mention or offer it proactively, as it increases payouts.
Claims need professional appraisal (e.g., via inspection or formula like 17c method), and success varies by state laws (prohibited or limited in a few states like Nebraska).
Most not-at-fault drivers accept repair payments and move on, leaving substantial value on the table—especially for higher-value or newer vehicles.
This data underscores a major opportunity: Millions of not-at-fault drivers lose out on rightful compensation for diminished value or inadequate total loss settlements. Auto Equity Experts exists to help level the playing field with expert analysis and advocacy.
Sources: NHTSA CrashStats, CCC Intelligent Solutions Crash Course reports, IIHS Fatality Facts, Insurance Information Institute, and industry analyses (latest available as of 2025). Data subject to annual updates—check official sources for the most current figures.
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