{"id":7544,"date":"2026-10-05T21:04:38","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T21:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/?p=7544"},"modified":"2026-10-15T04:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T04:21:13","slug":"reclamacion-por-perdida-de-valor-en-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/es\/diminished-value-claim-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Reclamo por p\u00e9rdida de valor en Texas: \u00bfvale la pena presentarlo?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!--\r\n  J. ALEXANDER LAW FIRM; ARTICLE (.jal-injury-log)\r\n  Diminished value spoke of the property damage hub (topic map page 5): Is a Diminished Value Claim Worth Filing in Texas?\r\n  Slug: \/diminished-value-claim-texas\/ (owns diminished value after repairs; hands off totaled cars (\/totaled-car-value-texas\/), repairs and rentals (hub and rental spoke), aftermarket parts (\/aftermarket-parts-texas-insurance\/))\r\n  Suggested title tag (set at WP level): Diminished Value Claim in Texas: Is It Worth Filing?\r\n  Suggested meta description (set at WP level): If another driver damaged your car in Texas, their insurer may owe diminished value. When a claim is worth pursuing, how to prove it and the deadline to sue.\r\n  Law read in primary text 2026-10-05 (scratchpad pdc\/src: TDI pages, Occupations Code 2303 and 2308, Transportation Code 501, Insurance Code 542 and 1952, the TAIPA policy form, the J&D Towing and Schaefer opinions); calls coded by hand in pdc\/.\r\n-->\r\n<div class=\"jal-injury-log\">\r\n<link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\">\r\n<link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.gstatic.com\" crossorigin>\r\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,300;1,400;1,500&#038;family=Roboto+Mono:wght@400;500;700&#038;family=Source+Sans+3:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,600;0,700;1,400&#038;family=Source+Serif+4:ital,opsz,wght@0,8..60,400;0,8..60,600;1,8..60,400&#038;display=swap\" media=\"print\" onload=\"this.media='all'\">\r\n<noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,300;1,400;1,500&#038;family=Roboto+Mono:wght@400;500;700&#038;family=Source+Sans+3:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,600;0,700;1,400&#038;family=Source+Serif+4:ital,opsz,wght@0,8..60,400;0,8..60,600;1,8..60,400&#038;display=swap\"><\/noscript>\r\n<style>\r\n\r\n.jal-injury-log{\r\n  \/* ===== J. 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li{counter-increment:jal-toc;margin-bottom:8px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc li::before{content:counter(jal-toc,decimal-leading-zero);color:var(--muted);margin-right:12px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc a{color:var(--ink);text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc a:hover{color:var(--gold);}\r\n\r\n\/* MOBILE \/ TABLET INLINE TOC *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile{display:block;margin:0 0 56px;padding:20px 22px;border:1px solid var(--rule);background:var(--panel);font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;line-height:1.7;}\r\n@media (min-width:1240px){.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile{display:none;}}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile-title{text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.15em;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;margin-bottom:14px;padding-bottom:10px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule-soft);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile ol{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;counter-reset:jal-toc-m;display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);gap:6px 16px;}\r\n@media (max-width:560px){.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile ol{grid-template-columns:1fr;}}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile li{counter-increment:jal-toc-m;margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile li::before{content:counter(jal-toc-m,decimal-leading-zero);color:var(--muted);margin-right:10px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile a{color:var(--ink);text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile a:hover{color:var(--gold);}\r\n\r\n\/* RESPONSIVE *\/\r\n@media (max-width:700px){\r\n  .jal-injury-log{padding:72px 0 48px;font-size:17px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-container{padding:0 20px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-h2{font-size:28px;margin:56px 0 20px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-question{padding:26px 24px 22px;margin:56px 0 20px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-question .jal-qh2{font-size:23px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-lede::first-letter{font-size:4em;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-masthead{flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start;gap:12px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice{flex-direction:column;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice-photo{flex:0 0 auto;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice-photo img{min-height:0;max-height:360px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice-body{padding:28px 24px;}\r\n}\r\n\r\n\/* ===== C09 ADDENDUM: components not in the base template ===== *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check{margin:34px 0;border:1px solid var(--gold-line);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-head{margin:0;background:var(--gold);color:#0B0C0F;padding:12px 22px;font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.14em;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:700;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body{padding:18px 24px 20px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body p{margin:0 0 14px;font-size:16px;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(280px,100%),1fr));gap:8px 24px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body li{padding:8px 0 8px 26px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule-soft);position:relative;font-size:15.5px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body li .jal-check-ico{position:absolute;left:0;top:12px;width:16px;height:16px;fill:var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note{margin:26px 0 30px;padding:22px 26px;background:var(--gold-tint);border:1px solid var(--gold-line);border-left:4px solid var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note .jal-label{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;display:block;margin-bottom:8px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note p{margin:0 0 12px;font-size:16.5px;line-height:1.6;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note p:last-child{margin-bottom:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note .jal-attrib{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-sr-only{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap;border:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-cta p.jal-cta-heading{font-family:'Montserrat',sans-serif;font-weight:600;font-size:22px;color:var(--ink-strong);margin:0 0 6px;line-height:1.25;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-accent{font-style:normal;color:var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-h1 .jal-accent,.jal-injury-log .jal-h2 .jal-accent{font-weight:inherit;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-qh2 .jal-accent{font-weight:600;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-stat-number .jal-accent{font-weight:700;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-grid{margin:32px 0 8px;border:1px solid var(--rule);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-head{background:var(--panel-2);padding:14px 20px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule);font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-strong);font-weight:700;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-head span{color:var(--muted);font-weight:400;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:8px 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list li{padding:10px 20px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule-soft);font-size:15px;color:var(--ink);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list li:last-child{border-bottom:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list cite,.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list .jal-proof-cite{display:block;font-style:normal;font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);margin-bottom:2px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-note{font-size:13px;color:var(--muted);margin:8px 0 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer{display:flex;gap:18px;margin:0 0 40px;padding:20px 24px;border:1px solid var(--rule);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media{margin:0 0 36px;border:1px solid var(--rule);border-bottom:3px solid var(--gold);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media img{width:100%;height:auto;display:block;}\r\n@media (max-width:700px){.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media{margin:0 0 28px;}}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-figure{margin:20px 0 0;padding:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-figure img{width:100%;height:auto;display:block;border:1px solid var(--rule);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-figcaption{font-size:13px;color:var(--muted);margin-top:10px;line-height:1.55;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer-photo{width:64px;height:64px;border-radius:50%;object-fit:cover;flex:none;border:2px solid var(--gold-line);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer-body p{margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer-body{font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer .jal-label{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;display:block;margin-bottom:6px;}\r\n\r\n\/* ===== COVERAGE LAYERS RAIL ===== *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layers{list-style:none;margin:26px 0 34px;padding:0;position:relative;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layers::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:21px;top:10px;bottom:10px;width:2px;background:var(--gold-line);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer{position:relative;display:flex;gap:20px;padding:0 0 26px;margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer:last-child{padding-bottom:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-ico-wrap{position:relative;z-index:1;flex:none;width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--panel-2);border:2px solid var(--gold);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-ico{width:18px;height:18px;fill:var(--gold);display:block;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-body{padding-top:9px;min-width:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-body p{margin:0;}\r\n\r\n\/* ===== PRINT LAYER: the dark theme must print dark-on-white ===== *\/\r\n@media print{\r\n  @page{margin:0.75in;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log{\r\n    --bg:#FFFFFF;--panel:#FFFFFF;--panel-2:#FFFFFF;--ink:#1A1A1A;--ink-strong:#000000;\r\n    --muted:#4A4A4A;--secondary:#4A4A4A;--rule:#8A8A8A;--rule-soft:rgba(0,0,0,0.28);\r\n    --gold:#7A5C0C;--gold-soft:#7A5C0C;--gold-deep:#5F470A;--gold-tint:transparent;\r\n    --gold-line:#7A5C0C;--code-bg:#FFFFFF;--code-text:#1A1A1A;\r\n    background:#FFFFFF !important;background-image:none !important;color:#1A1A1A;\r\n    padding:0;font-size:11.5pt;line-height:1.5;\r\n  }\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-container{max-width:100%;padding:0;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-toc{display:none !important;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-h1{font-size:24pt;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-h2{font-size:16pt;margin:28pt 0 10pt;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-dek,.jal-injury-log .jal-lede{font-size:12.5pt;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log 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.jal-question{background:#FFFFFF !important;break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-question::before{background:#FFFFFF !important;border:1px solid #7A5C0C;color:#7A5C0C;-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;print-color-adjust:exact;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-check-head{border-bottom:1.5px solid #7A5C0C;break-after:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-check-body li{break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-figure,.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media{break-inside:avoid;page-break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-figure img{max-height:8in;width:auto;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note,.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer,.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-grid,.jal-injury-log .jal-cta,.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote{break-inside:avoid;page-break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-layer{break-inside:avoid;page-break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-layers::before{background:#7A5C0C;-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;print-color-adjust:exact;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-layer-ico-wrap{background:#FFFFFF;}\r\n}\r\n\r\n\/* comparative fault post addendum: 24px link targets in both tables of contents, the byline and tables *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc li,.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile li{margin-bottom:2px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc a,.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile a{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;min-height:24px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-byline a{display:inline-block;padding:3px 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-data-table-wrap td a{display:inline-block;padding:2px 0;}\r\n\/* breadcrumb *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs{margin:0 0 18px;font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.06em;text-transform:uppercase;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs ol{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:4px 10px;align-items:center;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs li{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs li + li::before{content:'\/';color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs a{color:var(--ink);text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;min-height:24px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs [aria-current]{color:var(--ink-strong);}\r\n\/* statute quote: smaller than a pull quote, still set apart *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute{font-size:21px;line-height:1.45;margin:36px 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute p{margin:0 0 12px;color:var(--ink-strong);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute .jal-attrib{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute .jal-attrib a{display:inline-block;padding:4px 0;}\r\n\/* method note under the intake call figure *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-method{font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:var(--muted);border-left:2px solid var(--rule);padding-left:14px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-method strong{color:var(--ink);}\r\n\/* checklist heading used as a label, not an outline heading *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article p.jal-check-head{margin:0;color:#0B0C0F;}\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute{font-size:18px;padding-left:18px;}\r\n}\r\n\/* callout text sits in paragraphs *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-callout p{margin:0;}\r\n\/* compact tables that fit a phone screen without sideways scrolling *\/\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-fit th,.jal-injury-log .jal-fit td{padding:9px 5px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-fit td.jal-metric{font-size:12px;white-space:normal;text-align:left;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-fit th{font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.04em;}\r\n}\r\n\/* ===== READING DESIGN LAYER: serif long form text, cleaner labels, attorney photos, case cards ===== *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log{--serif:'Source Serif 4',Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;--sans:'Source Sans 3','Source Sans Pro',-apple-system,'Segoe UI',sans-serif;--display:'Montserrat',-apple-system,'Segoe UI',sans-serif;}\r\n\/* reading progress bar (scroll driven where supported, invisible elsewhere) *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-progress{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;right:0;height:3px;background:var(--gold);transform-origin:0 50%;transform:scaleX(0);z-index:60;pointer-events:none;}\r\n@supports (animation-timeline: scroll()){.jal-injury-log .jal-progress{animation:jal-read linear both;animation-timeline:scroll(root block);}\r\n}\r\n@keyframes jal-read{to{transform:scaleX(1);}\r\n}\r\n\/* long form text in a reading serif *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article > p,.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > p,.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > ul > li,.jal-injury-log .jal-voice-body p{font-family:var(--serif);font-size:19px;line-height:1.75;color:#ECE9E1;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > p{margin:0 0 24px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > ul{margin:0 0 26px 22px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > ul > li{margin-bottom:8px;padding-left:4px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > ul > li::marker{color:var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article > p.jal-lede{font-size:23px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--ink-strong);margin-bottom:36px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-dek{font-family:var(--serif);font-style:italic;font-size:22px;line-height:1.55;color:#CFCCC4;max-width:680px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article p.jal-method{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:15.5px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article p.jal-answer-summary{font-size:18.5px;line-height:1.6;color:#DAD8D1;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-callout p,.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note p{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:17.5px;line-height:1.6;}\r\n\/* labels in Montserrat instead of mono, at readable sizes *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-issue-meta,.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-byline,.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-toc,.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log 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.jal-voice-photo img{height:280px;min-height:0;max-height:280px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-voice-body{padding:24px 22px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-stat-number{font-size:32px;}\r\n}\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-fit td.jal-metric{font-size:14px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-fit tbody th,.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-data-table-wrap td{font-size:15px;}\r\n}\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-stats-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-stat{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:18px;padding:16px 18px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-stat-number{flex:0 0 118px;font-size:30px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-stat-number .jal-accent{font-size:17px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-stat-label{margin-top:0;}\r\n}\r\n\/* case photos *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo{margin:30px 0 34px;padding:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo img{width:100%;height:auto;aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover;display:block;border:1px solid var(--rule);background:var(--panel-2);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo-pair{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:10px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo figcaption{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.55;color:var(--muted);margin-top:10px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo-tag{font-family:var(--display);font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;margin-right:10px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo-hero{margin:-28px 0 56px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo-hero img{border-bottom:3px solid var(--gold);}\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-photo-pair{grid-template-columns:1fr;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo-hero{margin:-36px 0 44px;}\r\n}\r\n@media print{.jal-injury-log .jal-photo{break-inside:avoid;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-photo img{max-height:3.2in;width:auto;max-width:100%;}\r\n}\r\n@media print{.jal-injury-log .jal-progress{display:none;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-voice{break-inside:avoid;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-voice-photo{display:none;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-casefile{break-inside:avoid;}\r\n}\r\n\/* wide table cells wrap on landscape phones and small tablets *\/\r\n@media (max-width:760px){.jal-injury-log .jal-fit td.jal-metric{white-space:normal;}\r\n}\r\n\/* print: light screen grays become dark ink on paper *\/\r\n@media print{.jal-injury-log .jal-dek,.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-byline,.jal-injury-log .jal-article p.jal-answer-summary,.jal-injury-log .jal-article > p,.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > p,.jal-injury-log .jal-article > section > ul > li,.jal-injury-log .jal-voice-body p{color:#1A1A1A !important;}\r\n}\r\n\/* inline jump link in a method note: 24px target *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log p.jal-method a{display:inline-block;padding:3px 0;}\r\n\/* statute cite under a table row label *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log.jal-injury-log .jal-data-table-wrap tbody th .jal-source{font-size:13px;font-weight:400;color:var(--muted);letter-spacing:0;}\r\n\r\n\/* lists inside a callout *\/.jal-injury-log .jal-callout ul{margin:10px 0 0;padding-left:20px;}@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-callout{padding:20px 18px;}}\r\n\/* two and three column comparison tables on phones *\/@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-cmp th,.jal-injury-log .jal-cmp td{padding:9px 6px;font-size:14.5px;}}\r\n\/* small portrait case photo *\/.jal-injury-log .jal-photo.jal-photo-small{max-width:260px;margin:26px auto 30px;}.jal-injury-log .jal-photo.jal-photo-small img{aspect-ratio:3\/4;}<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"jal-progress\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n<nav class=\"jal-toc\" aria-label=\"Table of contents\">\r\n  <div class=\"jal-toc-title\">In this article<\/div>\r\n  <ol role=\"list\">\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-s1\">Who pays<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-worth\">Is it worth it<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-prove\">Proving the loss<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-send\">Making the claim<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <\/ol>\r\n<\/nav>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"jal-container\">\r\n\r\n  <header class=\"jal-hero\">\r\n    <nav class=\"jal-crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\r\n      <ol role=\"list\">\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/\">Home<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/insights\/\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><span aria-current=\"page\">Diminished Value<\/span><\/li>\r\n      <\/ol>\r\n    <\/nav>\r\n    <div class=\"jal-issue-meta\">\r\n      <span>Resources<\/span>\r\n      <span class=\"jal-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n      <span>Texas Insurance Law<\/span>\r\n      <span class=\"jal-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n      <span>Updated <time datetime=\"2026-10-05\">October 2026<\/time><\/span>\r\n      <span class=\"jal-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n      <span>About 7 min read<\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <h1 class=\"jal-h1\">Is a Diminished Value Claim <span class=\"jal-accent\">Worth Filing in Texas?<\/span><\/h1>\r\n    <p class=\"jal-dek\">A car that has been in a wreck can sell for less, even after a good repair. When the wreck was another driver&#8217;s fault, their insurer may have to pay you the difference.<\/p>\r\n    <div class=\"jal-byline\">\r\n      <div><strong>Written and reviewed by<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/about-us\/josh-alexander\/\">Josh Alexander<\/a>, Founder and Managing Attorney<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Published<\/strong> <time datetime=\"2026-10-05\">October 5, 2026<\/time> &middot; <strong>Law checked<\/strong> <time datetime=\"2026-10-05\">October 5, 2026<\/time><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/header>\r\n\r\n  <figure class=\"jal-photo jal-photo-hero\">\r\n    <img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/plt-pd-1024x768.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/plt-pd-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/plt-pd-1024x768.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 716px\" alt=\"The back of our client's red Toyota RAV4 after a Jeep hit it on FM 78 in San Antonio, with the bumper cover pushed in and a dent across the liftgate\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n    <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>Our client&#8217;s RAV4 after a Jeep rear ended it on San Antonio&#8217;s FM 78. This crash, from <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/results\/30k-san-antonio-rotator-cuff-tear-settlement\/\">an injury case we settled for $30,000<\/a>, is our example throughout this guide.<\/figcaption>\r\n  <\/figure>\r\n\r\n  <article class=\"jal-article\">\r\n\r\n    <nav class=\"jal-toc-mobile\" aria-label=\"Table of contents\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-toc-mobile-title\">In this article<\/div>\r\n      <ol role=\"list\">\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-s1\">Who pays<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-worth\">Is it worth it<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-prove\">Proving the loss<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-send\">Making the claim<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <\/ol>\r\n    <\/nav>\r\n\r\n    <p class=\"jal-lede\">Say another driver hits your car. Their insurer pays to fix it, and it comes back from the shop looking fine. But when you try to sell it or trade it in, the buyer checks its history report, sees the accident and offers less than they would for the same car with a clean history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>That difference is called diminished value. In Texas, the at fault driver&#8217;s insurance can owe it, on top of the repair bill.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>A claim is most likely to be worth filing for a newer, valuable or low mileage car, or one with serious damage. If the insurer refuses, the time to sue generally runs out two years after the crash.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-q1\">\r\n    <div class=\"jal-question\" id=\"jal-s1\" data-q=\"Who pays\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-question-label\">The short answer<\/div>\r\n      <h2 class=\"jal-qh2\" id=\"jal-q1\">Who Owes Diminished <span class=\"jal-accent\">Value in Texas?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-answer-summary\">Usually, the other driver&#8217;s insurer. It may owe both the cost of the repairs and the value your car still lost after them. Your own collision coverage usually pays only to fix the car, not for the lower resale value.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <p>Under Texas law, whoever caused the crash owes for the harm it did, and that includes any value your car has lost even after a proper repair. Your own collision coverage is a different promise: it covers the cost of repairing or replacing your car, and once the repair is done right, it does not owe you for the resale value the accident takes off. The Texas Supreme Court set out these rules in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/5446248\/j-d-towing-llc-v-american-alternative-insurance-corp\/\">J &amp; D Towing<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/894487\/american-manufacturers-mutual-insurance-co-v-schaefer\/\">Schaefer<\/a>. The Texas Department of Insurance agrees, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tdi.texas.gov\/bulletins\/2000\/b-0027-0.html\">a bulletin on diminished value<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>The insurance that pays is not always the driver&#8217;s own. The driver may have been in a parent&#8217;s car, a borrowed car or a company vehicle, and in Texas the policy on a vehicle generally covers someone driving it with the owner&#8217;s permission. That is why our first step is the crash report, which lists each vehicle&#8217;s owner and its insurance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <figure class=\"jal-photo\">\r\n      <img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/def-pd-photo-1024x768.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/def-pd-photo-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/def-pd-photo-1024x768.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 716px\" alt=\"The front bumper of the blue Jeep Wrangler that hit our client's RAV4, creased and scuffed beside the license plate\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n      <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>The front of the Jeep that hit our client&#8217;s RAV4, photographed for our file. You can read the full case on our <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/results\/30k-san-antonio-rotator-cuff-tear-settlement\/\">$30,000 San Antonio rotator cuff settlement page<\/a>.<\/figcaption>\r\n    <\/figure>\r\n\r\n    <p>That is what happened in the FM 78 crash. The teenager driving the Jeep had no license, but the Jeep&#8217;s owner had a policy that covered anyone driving it with permission, and that policy paid our client&#8217;s injury claim. So do not assume there is no coverage just because the driver seems uninsured or unable to pay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>Your own policy may still help when the other driver&#8217;s insurance is missing or too small. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage includes a property damage part, often called UMPD, and depending on the policy, it can cover lost value too. Before you give up on that claim, check your declarations page, the summary page that lists the coverages you bought. When you hire us, we go through that page with you.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-worth\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-worth\">When Is a Diminished Value <span class=\"jal-accent\">Claim Worth It?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>A claim makes sense when the likely payment is worth more than the cost and effort of proving the loss. It is generally stronger when:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>The vehicle is newer, low in mileage or high in value<\/li>\r\n      <li>The collision caused structural or frame damage<\/li>\r\n      <li>Airbags deployed<\/li>\r\n      <li>Repairs were extensive<\/li>\r\n      <li>Repairs used <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/aftermarket-parts-texas-insurance\/\">aftermarket parts<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li>The crash will appear on the vehicle history report<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>The question can come up after the other driver&#8217;s insurer has already paid for the repair. A family who called us in June was in exactly that spot: the insurer had paid to fix their newly purchased vehicle, and they wanted to know whether it had also lost resale value. Our staff started by asking what the repairs cost and the vehicle&#8217;s year, make and model, because those facts help show whether an appraisal is worth paying for.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <figure class=\"jal-photo\">\r\n      <img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/plt-pd-1024x768.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/plt-pd-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/plt-pd-1024x768.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 716px\" alt=\"Our client's seven year old Toyota RAV4 after the FM 78 crash, with the rear bumper cover pushed in and a dent across the liftgate\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n      <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>The RAV4 from the FM 78 crash, photographed for our file.<\/figcaption>\r\n    <\/figure>\r\n\r\n    <p>Not every claim is worth the cost. Take our client&#8217;s RAV4, shown above: it was seven years old, its airbags did not deploy and it did not need a tow. A car like that may lose less value than a newer one with structural damage. Still, the crash can show up in its history, so an appraisal is the way to put a number on the loss before deciding whether to claim it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>If the repairs would cost close to what the car was worth before the crash, the insurer may declare it a total loss instead. Then the question becomes whether the insurer valued the car fairly.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-prove\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-prove\">How Do You Prove <span class=\"jal-accent\">Diminished Value?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>To prove diminished value, you need two numbers: what your car was worth the moment before the crash, and what it is worth now, repaired but with an accident on its record. The difference between them is what you ask the insurer to pay. Helpful evidence includes:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>An independent diminished value appraisal<\/li>\r\n      <li>Final repair invoices and estimates<\/li>\r\n      <li>Photos taken before repairs<\/li>\r\n      <li>The police crash report<\/li>\r\n      <li>A vehicle history report<\/li>\r\n      <li>Listings for comparable vehicles with clean histories<\/li>\r\n      <li>Written trade in offers from dealers, if available<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>A repair invoice shows what was fixed, but not always how the crash happened or how hard the car was hit. The police crash report helps fill that gap. Texas officers use a state form called the CR-3, and for each vehicle they record a short damage code with three parts: a clock number for the direction the hit came from, letters for the part of the car that was damaged, and a number from 0 to 7 for how severe the damage was.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>On the FM 78 report, the officer coded our client&#8217;s RAV4 as 6-BC-3. In plain words: the car was hit from straight behind (the 6 o&#8217;clock position), the damage was to its back, and the severity was 3, the highest rating in that crash. Our free <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/texas-crash-report-decoder\/\">crash report decoder<\/a> explains every code on the form. We also kept photos of both vehicles; the Jeep&#8217;s creased front bumper, pictured earlier, is the other side of the same impact. That kind of record helps an appraiser explain why the car is worth less now.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>If the insurer makes an offer, keep in mind that it is the insurer&#8217;s own estimate. It may come from a formula the company uses internally, and the letter may not explain how the number was reached. Do not assume the first offer covers your full loss. Compare it with your appraisal, the repair records and the accident history before you decide whether to accept it; if you send it to us, we will make that comparison as part of our free review.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-voice\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-voice-photo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/josh-alexander-j-alexander-law-firm-768x768.png\" alt=\"Josh Alexander, Founder and Managing Attorney at J. Alexander Law Firm\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-voice-body\">\r\n      <span class=\"jal-label\">Attorney perspective<\/span>\r\n      <p>Josh also works as a mediator in other cases, the neutral person who helps both sides try to reach a settlement. That lets him see insurance negotiations from both sides of the table. In his attorney profile, he writes:<\/p>\r\n      <p>&#8220;I know that a low offer does not end the discussion if the evidence tells a different story.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n      <p>&#8220;I understand why an insurance carrier may resist a number, what information may be missing, and what proof can move a stalled negotiation.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-voice-name\">Josh Alexander<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-voice-role\">Founder and Managing Attorney<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-send\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-send\">How Do You Make the Claim, <span class=\"jal-accent\">and by When?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>Once the repairs are done, send the at fault driver&#8217;s insurer a written demand. A demand is simply a letter or email that states how much you are asking for, with the evidence listed above attached. On most auto policies, diminished value is paid out of the property damage limit, which is separate from the limit that pays for injuries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-callout\" role=\"note\">\r\n      <span class=\"jal-label\">Before you sign<\/span>\r\n      <p>A property damage settlement may come with a release, a document that ends all or part of your claim in exchange for payment. If the release covers diminished value, you may lose the chance to ask for more later. In a September call to our office, our staff gave a caller the same warning: signing a settlement agreement, or even cashing the check, could end the claim. Read the release before you accept any payment, and if you were also injured, have a lawyer review it as part of the whole case.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <p>If the insurer refuses to pay, you generally must file a lawsuit before the second anniversary of the wreck (Tex. Civ. Prac. &amp; Rem. Code &sect; 16.003).<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>If you were partly to blame, your recovery shrinks in proportion to your own fault, and if you were more than half to blame, the other driver generally owes you nothing. Our guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/comparative-negligence-texas\/\">Texas 51 percent bar<\/a> explains how that works.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-reviewer\" role=\"note\">\r\n      <img class=\"jal-reviewer-photo\" src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/josh-alexander-j-alexander-law-firm-300x300.png\" alt=\"Josh Alexander, Founder and Managing Attorney at J. Alexander Law Firm\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-reviewer-body\">\r\n        <span class=\"jal-label\">How we built this guide<\/span>\r\n        <p>Josh Alexander reviewed the legal information in this guide. Every example comes from our own case files or recorded calls to our office, with identifying details removed.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-contact\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-contact\">Was Your Vehicle Repaired After <span class=\"jal-accent\">Someone Else Caused the Crash?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>If you were hurt in the same crash, we can handle the vehicle claim along with your injury claim. Send us the repair invoice, any appraisal and the insurer&#8217;s letters, and we will tell you whether diminished value belongs in your claim and point out any paperwork you should not sign yet. A senior attorney leads every case, and a named case manager checks in with you every 14 days or sooner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-cta\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-cta-kicker\">24\/7 &middot; Free consultation &middot; No fee unless we win<\/div>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-cta-heading\">Free Review of Your Vehicle Damage and Injury Claim<\/p>\r\n      <p>J. Alexander Law Firm serves injured clients throughout Texas: Dallas &middot; Houston &middot; San Antonio &middot; Fort Worth &middot; Arlington &middot; Canton. <span lang=\"es\">Se habla espa&ntilde;ol.<\/span><\/p>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-btn-row\">\r\n        <a class=\"jal-btn jal-btn-primary\" href=\"tel:4698077480\">Call 469-807-7480<\/a>\r\n        <a class=\"jal-btn jal-btn-ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Request a free case review<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <\/article>\r\n\r\n  <footer class=\"jal-footer\">\r\n    <div class=\"jal-footer-meta\">\r\n      <div><strong>J. Alexander Law Firm<\/strong> &middot; 12801 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1100, Dallas, TX 75243<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Phone<\/strong> 469-807-7480 &middot; <strong>Toll free<\/strong> 1-800-INJURED<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Texas Supreme Court opinions<\/strong> American Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Schaefer, 124 S.W.3d 154 (Tex. 2003) &middot; J &amp; D Towing, LLC v. American Alternative Ins. Corp., 478 S.W.3d 649 (Tex. 2016)<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Statutes and agency guidance<\/strong> Tex. Civ. Prac. &amp; Rem. Code &sect;&sect; 16.003, 33.001 &middot; Texas Department of Insurance, Bulletin B-0027-00, Payment of Diminished Value to Policyholders (Apr. 6, 2000)<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Firm materials<\/strong> Case result page for our $30,000 San Antonio rotator cuff settlement &middot; Josh Alexander&#8217;s attorney profile<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Call material<\/strong> Recorded calls to our office in June and September 2026, paraphrased; no caller or client is named<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Written and reviewed by<\/strong> Josh Alexander &middot; Dallas, TX<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Updated<\/strong> <time datetime=\"2026-10-05\">October 5, 2026<\/time><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"jal-disclaimer\">\r\n      This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney client relationship. Policy terms and limits differ from one insurer to the next, and so do the facts of each crash. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Individual results and experiences vary.\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/footer>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/diminished-value-claim-texas\/#webpage\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/diminished-value-claim-texas\/\",\n      \"name\": \"Diminished Value Claim in Texas: Is It Worth Filing?\",\n      \"description\": \"If another driver damaged your car in Texas, their insurer may owe diminished value. 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