If you think your vehicle will never be the same after a collision repair - you're right. Most folks ...

The simple fact is that a wrecked and repaired car is not worth as much as a never been wrecked car. Car dealers know it. That's why they look for signs of repairs when you trade in your old car, and that's why they don't tell you about prior repaired damage when they sell you a car - and that can leave buyers victimized even more.

So when you go shopping for a used car, you have to be watching out to protect yourself. No one else will help you avoid that bad buying decision. Well, there is one guy we know of.

David Williams is an independent expert on cars and values and he knows how the value of a car is wrecked when the car itself is wrecked. If your car has been damaged and is getting repaired, you need to realize that even when it gets fixed, that wreck can still show up on a Carfax or AutoCheck or even sometimes on the factory's warranty record where they will "block" it from any more warranty coverage because of an accident.

When you go to trade it in, your dealer will likely find out about the damage and repairs and that means they will very likely offer you less for it. So not only does your vehicle lose value when the accident occurs - it loses it again when you go to trade it in. It's called "diminished value." But all is not lost. After all, that's what you have insurance for, right?

Problem is, many insurance companies certainly don't tell you about diminished value and they don't offer to pay it for you either. One victim tried to explain it to their insurance adjustor and concluded that it was a lot like trying to verbally explain something "to my dog" who obviously wasn't listening either. MSNMoney, and lots of others, note that a wrecked-repaired car just isn't worth as much anymore.

 Still Ohio courts have recognized that your insurance covers it and your insurance should pay for it.

So why doesn't your insurance company offer to pay you for the diminished value of your car after it's been repaired from your accident? Well, folks, the simple truth is that the insurance companies don't buy those tall buildings in your downtown city because they are paying out all they should on their claims.

Check it out. SafeCollisionRepairs.com is the place where you can learn about safe auto repairs and your right to collect diminished value after an accident and repair. After all, you pay for insurance to cover you so make sure it does.