Reports indicate that as many as 250,000 vehicles may be affected by Hurricane Sandy's flood waters, the release said. This compares to 325,000 vehicles that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.  

DamageMAX is here to help:

Many of the 250,000 vehicles damaged in Hurricane Sandy will be considered "total losses" by insurance companies and will be scrapped or crushed.  Many others will not be totaled out and in fact, insurance coverage may be denied due to policy exclusions, dropped coverage or high deductibles.  

DamageMAX purchases flood damaged vehicles AS-IS.  For those consumers stuck with a flood damaged vehicle can utilize DamageMAX to sell their vehicle.  DamageMAX specializes in damaged, disabled and flooded vehicles.  If you don't want to wait to have the car repaired, simply pocket the insurance claim check and DamageMAX will pay you to walk away from the vehicle.  Take that money to buy a new vehicle.  But be smart - as outlined below, many flooded vehicles will end up in show rooms and in dealer inventory - don't sell your flood car just to end up in another flood car!

How to avoid purchasing a flood damaged vehicle:

Thousands of flood-damaged cars are entering the market and consumers need to exercise caution when buying.  Consumer organizations are warning buyers to be aware that many cars currently for sale suffered flood damage from Hurricane Sandy.

Even car shoppers far from the northeast should be on the lookout for flood cars. “Flood damaged vehicles can be shipped across the country in a matter of days,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of National Consumers League.  “Consumers throughout the US need to take specific steps to protect themselves from inadvertently buying these vehicles.”

Consumer advocates offer these tips for car buyers:

• Consumers should check the vehicle history, using the unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and entering the VIN into the national government database. The system is called the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).

It was established by the US Department of Justice, and can be found at www.vehiclehistory.gov. Vehicle histories can be accessed for between $3 and $13. This database contains valuable information, including whether the vehicle was reported as flooded

However the database does not capture every flood vehicle - use common sense - Buyer Beware!

• Additionally, consumers should have the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic prior to purchase -- including when buying over the internet.

For more information - contact Damagemax.

Nearly 70,000 drivers are involved in motor vehicle accidents on U.S. roads every day--that is almost one accident every second -- 24/7.

Of the 25 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States annually:

• 5 million consumers are not reimbursed for damage to their vehicle (because they are uninsured, under-insured or at fault)
• 5 million are unreported for various reasons

Many of these consumers may be better off selling damaged cars AS-IS than opting for repairs. DamageMAX can help with the decision and will even buy the damaged car if it is in the consumer's best interest.  DamageMAX is the first FREE consumer information website (www.DamageMAX.com) dedicated to helping automobile owners make informed decisions about their damaged vehicles.

“DamageMAX leverages the experience of industry insiders to bring cutting edge advice that will get our customers back on the road,” said Michael Lasini, founder of DamageMAX. “Until now there has not been a good option for damaged cars, but with the launch of DamageMAX we can buy any damaged vehicle, anywhere in the United States. Our passion is to help consumers get a fresh start after motor vehicle accidents.”

When your options seem limited after an accident DamageMAX can help you get a fresh start.

For further information, contact  DamageMAX, +1-855-DMG-MAX1 (364-6291)

Diminished Value is the reduction in resale value of a repaired vehicle due to accident history.  Even after high quality repairs have been performed, a significant portion of a damaged vehicle's original value is never restored.

Would you pay as much for a vehicle that has an accident history compared to one that doesn't?

With widespread consumer advertising of vehicle history reports (CarFax), accident history has a profound effect on the fair market value of an automobile.  Car dealers today avoid purchasing vehicles with adverse CarFax reports.  The wrecked car could be repaired better than new and a dealer is still unlikely to buy the vehicle.  Why not?  Because consumers today are armed with information and will not purchase a vehicle with accident history without a massive discount.
 
Automobile dealers are frequently portrayed in ads that sensationalize "worst case" scenarios where vehicles are misrepresented (by the dealer) to consumers, with vehicle history providers being the hero by saving the customer from a bad purchase.  In addition to consumers, dealers spend a significant amount of money on vehicle history products at various touch points in the retail process, as do vehicle wholesalers, online classified sites, financial institutions and even insurance companies.
 
The financial impact of accident history reporting is no secret.  Major Collision on a CarFax report is typically a $2,500 deduction on the fair market value on a vehicle.  There is unquestionable proof that the vehicle owner has suffered significant financial loss even though they have repaired the vehicle!

The subject of diminution of value damages caused serious concern to the insurance industry because insurers believe their policies are clear and they are only required to pay the cost of repair.  There are websites dedicated to helping consumers understand what each states provision for diminished value and how they can potentially recover additional compensation from their insurance carrier.  For additional information please consult with your state Department of Insurance or contact us at 855 DMG MAX1.

www.zalma.com
www.diminishedvalueadvocate.com

Nearly 70,000 drivers are involved in motor vehicle accidents on U.S. roads every day--that is almost 1 accident every second--24/7.

25 million accidents annually sounds like a lot, but if you consider there are 240 million vehicles on U.S. Roads, only 10% of them colliding seems more plausible.  Listen to talk radio during morning drive and you'll know what we mean!  The number of unreported accidents is already staggering (5 million) and will most likely increase as people struggle to make ends meet in the worst economy since the Great Depression.  Today, there are more uninsured motorists than ever before!  It is estimated that in the state of Georgia, 30% of the drivers have NO insurance coverage whatsoever.  Naturally, any expenses for unreported repairs are "out of pocket", leaving the driver in a very tough position financially.
 
Of the 20 million reported accidents, 5 million are not reimbursed for damage to their vehicle because they are uninsured, under-insured and possibly "at fault".  That brings the number of "out of pocket" accidents to 10 million.
 
Consumers have been faced with only two options after an accident; repair the vehicle or if you are lucky it's a "total loss" and you will get a check (hopefully).
 
You just got the BAD NEWS that your insurance carrier cannot or will not total your vehicle. If you are like most people, you don’t want to wait for your vehicle to be repaired and then wonder if it was fixed right.
 
And you most certainly can’t get top dollar for a damaged vehicle - until today! DamageMAX offers you maximum value for your damaged vehicle. We buy any damaged vehicle, anywhere in the USA! Don't hand that insurance repair check to a body shop - keep it and DamageMAX will buy your damaged car!  Thought that wreck was a loser - with DamageMAX you are the winner!

DamageMAX is the first consumer friendly FREE information website dedicated to helping automobile owners make informed decisions about their damaged vehicle. DamageMAX taps the experience of dozens of industry experts to bring you cutting edge advice that will help you quickly recover from your accident and get you back on the road!