Appraisal Umpire May Be A Policyholders Only 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 cases where you are at an impasse with your insurance adjuster, it is advised to get the name and then the phone number of the adjusters supervisor by calling the company directly or asking the adjuster for such information. Call the supervisor and/or the consumer complaint department and advise them of your problem as they may be able to help you. You can also request a “re-inspection” by another adjuster. Request that a “General Adjuster” e-inspect you claim. A General Adjuster is one that has over 15 years experience. It’s important not to forget to get the name of the person whom you talked with in the consumer complaint department as well.

If you are in a dispute that involves repairing a structure (home, building) that has suffered a large amount of damage, you could hire an engineering firm to provide an analysis and report of the damages suffered. If such a report does not provide a satisfactory result for you, you can file a complaint at Department Of Insurance in the state where the loss took place.

However, if you still feel that you have not been given a satisfying solution to your insurance loss problems you can call (919) 669-9111 which is a consumer information hotline that can answer questions related to insurance loss claims that are a result of fire, water, flood, smoke, wind, hail, tornado, and hurricanes. They have trained personnel that are available to assist and answer queries relating to various property damage complaints.

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