The Secret Industry

Two Words That Can Lead to Thousands of Dollars

When Liz Teklinsky's car was hit in an accident that wasn't her fault, the at-fault driver's insurance company paid for the repairs and considered the matter closed. What Liz didn't know — and what most accident victims never find out — is that a properly repaired car is still worth less than one that's never been in an accident. That gap has a name: diminished value.

CBS13's consumer investigative team, Call Kurtis, looked into why so few drivers ever hear those two words from their insurance company, and how a small, family-run appraisal business in California has been quietly helping people recover thousands of dollars they didn't know they were owed.

Liz's Story

After her repairs were completed, Liz reached out to Ready2Appraise, where certified appraiser Seth Stairs reviewed her vehicle and claim. His assessment determined a diminished value of $2,513 — money the insurance company had never offered and never mentioned. When the insurer wouldn't budge, Liz took her case to small claims court, backed by a certified appraisal report. She was awarded $3,000, including costs.

"The most I've helped someone get is $9,000." — Seth Stairs, Certified Automotive Appraiser, Ready2Appraise

Why California Drivers Are Especially Exposed

Unlike states such as Georgia or Washington, which have clearer legal frameworks around diminished value claims, California lacks a well-defined diminished value law. That ambiguity works in insurers' favor — and against consumers who don't know to push back. Without a specific statute spelling out what you're owed, most people simply never ask.

The Takeaway

The investigation's core message was simple: ask for what you're owed. Diminished value isn't a loophole or a gray-area trick — it's a real, recoverable loss. But insurance companies have little incentive to bring it up, and most drivers never learn about it until it's too late to file a claim.