Appraisal Umpire May Be Your Best Chance To Resolve An Insurance Claim Dispute
Many claims result in an insurance claim dispute. For many claims the Appraisal Umpire may be the policyholders only real chance for a fair claims settlement. Unfortunately, insurance claim disputes occur every day of the year. What causes such disputes? The first and most obvious reason is that almost all policyholders believe that they are entitled to a larger settlement than what their adjuster has provided. Others occur because many insurer’s goals are to pay as little as possible on claims. Another common reason is that claims that should be covered are often denied by insurance companies. Many other reasons as well can result in a dispute.
There are several ways one can deal with an insurance loss. For one, an aggressive approach, which we do not encourage. Overwhelming aggression can cause further delays. In most cases disputes and disagreements can be settled easier with a peaceful, civilized manner. After all, people are allowed to disagree. It shouldn’t cause a fight. There really are several options that are more peaceful and productive. The approach used will depend on the level of the insurance claim dispute a policyholder is involved with.
For claims where the two sides are an impasse, it’s advised to first obtain the name and phone number of the adjuster’s supervisor. This can be done by calling the company directly or simply asking the adjuster for the information. Call the adjuster’s supervisor and/or the complaint department and advise them of your problem. They may be able to help you right away and agree with your side of the story. The policyholder can also request a “reinspection” of the damages by another adjuster. It’s a good idea to request that a “General Adjuster” be the one to reinspect the claim. A General Adjuster usually has 15+ years experience. It is also important to obtain the name and extension of the person who you spoke with in the complaint department as well.
If you have a dispute about repairing a structure that has suffered a large loss, you can hire an engineer to provide an analysis report of the damages. If the result still has not satisfied you there you should file a complaint at Department Of Insurance in the state you live in.
Unfortunately, you may find yourself in a position where you still cannot ascertain a fair settlement for your claim, even after all this. It can be very frustrating, however, you still have options. Options that are located directly in your policy that protect you. For more information and to have all your questions answered, call (919) 669-9111. The consumer information hotline can answer all your questions for claims and disputes related to flood, water, fire, smoke, tornado, wind, hail, even hurricanes and theft. The trained personnel are available to assist you with all the available options you are entitled to under the policy.
In closing, if you still believe that you have not been treated fairly, even after you have tried all the above referenced options, you can turn to the little clause buried deep within the insurance policy. The clause I speak of is called APPRAISAL. The Insurance Appraisal Clause allows the parties involved in the dispute to settle their differences without litigation and fr a much lower cost than hiring attorneys. It is very similar to arbitration. However, it’s not actually an arbitration. (For a detailed explanation of the Insurance Appraisal Process and how the clause can work for you, visit http://www.insuranceappraisalprocess.com ).
This appraisal clause calls for an impartial, competent, and unbiased Appraisal Umpire that works with two independent appraisers. The three get together to review and settle the differences between the estimates and damages. The Appraisal Umpire is the tie-breaker that allows policyholders to obtain a fair claim settlement. Being that the Appraisal Umpire has absolutely no interest in the outcome of the dispute, it concludes with a decision based solely on the facts presented to them.
(C) Joseph Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Get Appraisal Umpire Help, by visiting http://www.insuranceclaimsgroup.com or http://www.insurance-appraisal-services.com
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