Insurance Appraisal Services

Appraisal - ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) 

Most insurance policies contain a provision within the policy which stipulates that either the insurance company or the insured has the right to demand or invoke “Appraisal”, if said party disagrees as to the amount of the insured loss. Appraisal is about money, and the scope of work - Appraisal is NOT about coverage.  It is important to know this in advance. For example: If your property was damaged from a covered loss and the insurance paid that loss appropriately, but for not enough money to handle the repairs, or if the scope by which repairs need to be completed are not understood or underpaid, the Appraisal may be the right direction for you.

If however, the insurance carrier denied the damages sustained (for example) to your roof, then going straight to appraisal may not be the right decision because the “scope of covered damages is not agreed to. To resolve coverage issues, it is often best to hire us as you Public Adjuster.
If coverage has been extended, but the process of repairs or the dollar amount is not accurate, then Appraisal may be the right path to take.

The Appraisal provision will likely read something like this:

“If we and you disagree on the amount of loss, either party may make a written demand for appraisal of the covered loss. Each party will select a competent and impartial appraiser and notify the other of the appraiser selected within 20 days of the demand”.

The purpose of the Insurance Claim Appraisal process, or Alternative Dispute Resolution as it is known, is to offer both parties, the insured and the insurance company, the insurance contract a more expedient alternative to going to court in order to reach a settlement. Appraisal has many similarities to binding Arbitration, but the two processes are not identical. 

The Appraisal process is made up of three participants:

Insured’s Appraiser the Insurer’s Appraiser and the (potentially) Appraisal Umpire

The insurance company and the insured both select their own Insurance Claims Appraiser to represent their side in the process.  This person can be a contractor, an engineer, a Public Adjuster, etc. but it must be a qualified person to represent your side of the claim dispute. 

As part of the Appraisal Process, the appraisers agree (or attempt to do so) on a neutral Umpire. 

If they cannot agree on an Umpire, the courts may appoint the Umpire for them.

Should the two opposing Claims Appraisers not agree on the scope of work and cost of the final amount of the claim, the appointed Umpire will review both appraisals estimates and determine a final ruling on the differences of the two appraisers, known as The Appraisal Award.

Our extensive knowledge of the insurance carrier’s property insurance claims will prove most beneficial in moving some clients’ claim disputes forward toward an equitable resolution.

We find the Appraisal process, when properly utilized, to be a very effective means to properly conclude insurance claims disputes.

Claim Denied, Unfiled, or  Underpaid? We Can Help

If your insurance company has underpaid on a settlement or denied you coverage, we're here to help. At Allen Claims, we'll document, estimate, and negotiate the claim on your behalf using your right to an appraisal. Once you've sent your policy info to us, we'll handle the rest.

Fill out a form today to get the compensation you deserve.