Farm Bureau Insurance Florida

Business owners and home owners often encounter issues when submitting a claim to their insurance company. Even when represented by a public adjuster or an attorney, it is common for there to be some type dispute between the value of the claim.

Virtually all property insurance policy contracts include an appraisal clause which may be invoked if there is a dispute between the policy holder and the insurance company regarding a coverage determination, the claim handling process, or most commonly, the settlement amount.

Often, after an insured makes a claim under their policy, the insurance company will offer a dollar amount to allow the policy holder to “become whole”. Unfortunately, the insured may find that this “calculated” amount is insufficient, or even worse, may only realize this after the replacement/repair process has started.

Contents Claims

With in the capacity of personal property claims, there is often several thousand unique items subject to damages. Especially with Residential Homeowner claims, the magnitude of scope is enormous, and the time required to document and appraise each line item is often overwhelming. This basic fact increases the chance of dispute ten-fold, as a dispute can be on any of the thousand claimed items.

This, coupled with the lack of professional personal property experts available on the open market, often results in the homeowner’s own documentation verses the carrier’s internal loss prevention methods. Common sense can predict the difficulties that a policy holder will face when submitting a claim to a well versed and experienced insurance adjuster working to protect the interests of his or her employer. Check Internet #1 Farm Bureau Insurance Florida right now!

Enter, the Appraisal Provision:

APPRAISAL. If you and we fail to agree on the amount of actual cash value or amount of loss, either one can demand a determination by appraisal. If either makes a written demand for appraisal, each shall select a competent, independent appraiser and notify the other of the appraiser’s identity within 20 days of receipt of the written demand. The two appraisers shall then select a competent, impartial umpire. If the two appraisers are unable to agree upon an umpire within 15 days, you or we can ask a judge of a court of record in the state where the resident premises is located to select an umpire.

The appraisers shall then set the amount of the actual cash value and loss to each item. If the appraisers submit a written report of an agreement to us, the amount agreed upon shall be the amount of the actual cash value and loss. If the appraisers fail to agree within a reasonable time, they shall submit their differences to the umpire. Written agreement signed by any two of these three shall set the amount of the actual cash value and loss. Each appraiser shall be paid by the party selecting that appraiser. Other expenses of the appraisal and the compensation of the umpire shall be paid equally by you and us.

The above captioned quote is much like any standard appraisal clause found in an insurance policy. It is also something overlooked by the policy holder, during an impasse or dispute. When a policyholder is offered a substandard settlement offer, they often do not understand their rights under the policy contract, and may feel that they have no other choice then to accept the amount calculated by the Insurance Company.

There may also be an intimidation factor, when an inexperienced policyholder is faced with disputing a corporate super power, such as the typical Insurance Carrier. Popular belief may only expose (two) distinct options; Accept the offer and move on, or further delay their life by hiring an attorney to bring suite. Obviously, this belief can counter act and disable their proactive and assertive role in accepting the true amount of loss, and nothing less. Check Internet #1 Farm Bureau Insurance Florida right now!


About the author

Having problems with Insurance? Don