Insurance Claim Appraisal in Chattanooga, TN

Insurance appraisal is a dispute-resolution process contained in many property insurance policies. It is generally used when the policyholder and insurance company disagree about the amount of loss.

Depending on the policy language and circumstances, disputes may involve the scope of necessary repairs, quantities, pricing, measurements, or the amount required to restore damaged property.

Typically, each side selects a competent appraiser. The appraisers evaluate the disputed loss and attempt to reach an agreement. If they cannot agree, the appraisal provision may provide for the selection of an umpire.

Appraisal is not the same thing as filing a new insurance claim, hiring a contractor, or simply obtaining another estimate. It is a contractual process governed by the language of the insurance policy.

✓ Your insurance company and your contractor have substantially different estimates.

✓ The carrier has accepted coverage but the parties disagree about the amount necessary to repair the damage.

✓ Important repair items, quantities, or costs remain disputed.

✓ You believe the carrier's estimate does not accurately reflect the amount of the covered loss.

✓ Repeated documentation and estimates have not resolved the disagreement.

✓ Your policy contains an appraisal provision and you want to understand whether invoking it makes sense.

 Appraisal isn't appropriate for every insurance dispute. The policy language and the nature of the disagreement matter. 

A Public Adjuster represents the policyholder in the preparation, presentation, and negotiation of an insurance claim, subject to applicable law and the terms of the policy.

Appraisal is different. It is a contractual dispute-resolution process that may be used when the parties disagree over the amount of loss.

A claim may involve public adjusting without appraisal, appraisal without ongoing public adjusting, or circumstances where another resolution method is more appropriate.

The right approach depends on the policy, the claim, and exactly what remains disputed.

Appraisal should not be treated as a substitute for every type of insurance dispute. Questions involving coverage, policy interpretation, exclusions, or other legal issues may fall outside the role of an appraisal panel depending on the policy language and applicable law.

That's why the first question shouldn't simply be, “Can we demand appraisal?”

The better question is:

“What exactly is disputed, and is appraisal the appropriate mechanism for resolving it?”

1. Review the policy
Determine whether the policy contains an appraisal provision and understand its requirements.

2. Identify the dispute
Separate disagreements concerning the amount of loss from other coverage or policy issues.

3. Appraisers are selected
Each party typically selects an appraiser according to the policy's requirements.

4. The loss is evaluated
Documentation, measurements, estimates, photographs, repair requirements and other relevant information may be reviewed.

5. An umpire may become involved
If the appraisers cannot agree, the policy may provide a procedure for selecting an umpire.

6. An appraisal award may be issued
The effect of an appraisal award depends upon the policy language and applicable law.

Does my insurance policy have an appraisal clause?
Many property policies contain appraisal provisions, but the wording varies. The policy should be reviewed before appraisal is invoked.

Does appraisal determine coverage?
Appraisal generally addresses the amount of loss. Coverage and policy interpretation issues may require a different resolution process depending on the policy and applicable law.

Who chooses the appraiser?
Typically, each party selects an appraiser according to the requirements of the policy's appraisal provision.

What happens if the appraisers disagree?
The policy may provide for an umpire to help resolve disputed items when the two appraisers cannot reach agreement.

Property insurance disputes aren't solved by spreadsheets alone.

Understanding roofing systems, repairability, installation requirements, measurements, material availability, construction sequencing and real-world repair costs can be critical when evaluating the amount of a property loss.

Quantum Adjusting Services Inc. brings claim experience together with practical construction and roofing knowledge when evaluating property damage disputes.

We look beyond the estimate and evaluate what it actually takes to perform the work correctly.