Arbitrations and Appraisals

An insurance policy is a contractual relationship. Paying a premium to an insurance company obligates it to provide coverage. However, disputes often arise over issues such as the following:

• Who or what is protected?
• How does coverage take place?
• When is coverage effective?
• How much coverage is provided?
• What are the responsibilities for reporting losses?

Under a policy, you and the insurance company are partners. Partners often learn to understand and work with each other quite well. However, sometimes disagreements occur, and you should be aware of how you may look to your policy for help.

Arbitration and Appraisal

Two common areas of disagreement are over whether coverage exists or, if there is coverage, how much should be paid for a loss. Arbitration is a tool for addressing the former issue, while the latter is frequently handled by appraisal.

When a claim is rejected, the insurer should explain the reason for declining coverage. If no explanation is given, the policy owner's first step should be to request this information. The insured and insurer may discuss their viewpoints. Arbitration may be chosen if they fail to reach an understanding or compromise.

This process typically requires each party to:

• select their own qualified arbitrator
• permit the two arbitrators to select a third arbitrator to act as a judge
• allow that agreement among any two of the three parties stands as the decision
• each party pays for its arbitrator and shares the expense of the judge

The appraisal process is often similar or even identical as both parties usually:

• select their own qualified appraiser
• permit the two arbitrators to select a third appraiser to act as a judge
• allow that agreement among any two of the three parties stands as the decision
• each party pays for its appraiser and shares the expense of the judge

Items that can significantly impact either process are any local or state laws, the actual policy wording and the arbitration/appraisal procedure that may vary by locale.

Last Resort

Of course, sometimes arbitration or appraisal fails to settle differences, so legal action may be the last resort. However, many policies also have provisions for lawsuits. An insured is typically prohibited from filing a suit unless it is done within a specific time period. Further, the insured must use all the other options to resolve the conflict. While lawsuits are sometimes inevitable, insurance consumers must be aware of alternatives. It is even more important to take advantage of discussing your insurance coverage with a qualified insurance professional. Their expertise can be invaluable in dealing with complex insurance situations.

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2023

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.