Page 5: Avoiding Insurance Disputes

Progress to Claims Settlement

The speedy and efficient progress of an insurance claim depends on managing successfully the relationships and expectations of all those involved, within the assured company and with insurers, loss adjusters and consultants. Important keys to success are frequent communication and status updates, avoiding surprises and anticipating tricky issues.

As soon as any potential and significant coverage issues have been identified, a suitable strategy should be developed to deal with them. Discussing issues proactively with the loss adjusters can help to avoid a legalistic response from the insurer.

Careful thought should be given to claim preparation and presentation. A claim is more likely to be accepted if it is presented in a clear, easily understood and well-substantiated format. Any concerns raised by the adjuster should be addressed at the first opportunity and dealt with in a properly detailed response.

Frequent monitoring of progress is essential so that any difficulties are dealt with before they become a cause for real concern or dispute.

If a satisfactory negotiated settlement cannot be achieved, there are various routes - such as mediation- that can be followed to reach a conclusion to the claim.

Conclusion
Proactive and properly resourced claims management will reduce the risk of a disputed insurance claim and the consequent delays in receiving payment.