Owners of totaled vehicles are entitled to 2nd opinion appraisal for more money

Company offers free 2nd opinion for car crash victims whose rides are totaled

We often hear about getting second medical opinions - but what about for car insurance purposes?

FOX 2 - When it comes to car crashes, even if you walk away unharmed - there is a cost. Not to mention, all the time it takes to get the car repaired or replaced.

It can be easy to have your insurance take over from there, because that's what you pay for, right? It may be in your best interest to get a second opinion.

In Michigan, roughly one in every seven car crashes result in a total loss for the driver. That means the cost associated with repairing the car is about 75 percent of the car's value.

But you don't want just 75 percent of the value - and there are companies that can make sure you get what is really owed to you.

"No one tells you about this, your agents don't typically tell you, your adjusters don't," said Kenny Walters. "It's buried deep in the policy. if you don't read it you are not going to know."

There's a bit of a secret that anyone who has totaled a car may or may not know about. If you find yourself on the wrong end of a totaled car, most of us believe that insurance would send a check for what that car is worth.

"Most people just look at the offer and say okay, and take the money, move on and never think twice about anything," Walters said.

Walters says that might not be your best move - and he's made a living out of proving he can get customers more money.

"Very few people know that they have rights within their insurance policy called their right to an appraisal," he said. "If you know about it, you can challenge the offer the insurance company gave you.

"And if you don't know about it, you are kind of stranded. And that is where we come in to help."

Walters has been around cars his whole life. He's owned a repair shop and worked in the industry for the past 40 years.

Over that time, he saw a fair share of drivers come in with cars beyond repair.

Kenny Walters of mycarstotaled.com

"They had to tell people their cars are totaled and they had to work with insurance companies and they didn't have anyone on their side to help them," he said.

Walters still works with cars - he appraises those same wrecks just like your insurance company, but he does it with you in mind.

"We will get you the money you deserve and there is no risk," he said.

There is no risk he says, because like a lawyer, he doesn't get paid unless you do.

"We are going to do some research on their car, and check to see if the value is low. And 99 out of 100 times, it is," Walter said. "We don't charge you until we come up with a settlement, and we charge a flat fee so you know in advance - no commission, (and) you know what it is. You can't lose."

And that is why this option is often kept quiet, he says.

FOX 2: "Why would the insurance company tell you about this? It is in the vested interest to keep this a secret, but as a customer you want to get the most bang for your buck?"

"Correct, and it is your right," Walters said. "You are paying premiums for this protection, and hopefully you never have to use it."

He says this isn't just loose change we're talking about, it's real money.

"Our average of making over 900 settlements is over $5,000," he said. "The lowest we got someone is about $1,300, and I just finished one where I got them $85,000 more than the offer."

If the insurance company doesn't like his number - he still guarantees you will get more than the initial offer, or you don't pay him anything.

"The insurance company will hire someone just like me to work for them and then the appraisers will work together to find a fair market value on the car," Walters said.

Walters says it's about a two-week process. In many instances, pictures of the totaled car along with the report, will be all he needs to do his work.

You can find him at mycarstotaled.com