A couple divorce, the wife moves out, and, although her auto is declared on the policy, she is not a named insured. Does she have physical damage coverage? (Note: One court says NO.) Or, your resident child’s car is titled in her name, but declared on your policy. Does she have physical damage coverage? (Note:…
Not infrequently, an auto suffers a physical damage loss. There’s no question that the loss is covered…the only issue is whether the loss is covered as a collision or an other-than-collision (comprehensive) loss. In this article, we’ll examine several “Ask an Expert” claims, and we’ll show a simple (if incomplete) solution to this problem.
A Corvette was stolen by a scam artist that gave the insured a counterfeit check for $41,500. The bank didn’t find out that the check was counterfeit until a week later. The PAP was still in force, but the adjuster denied the claim. She said that, since the insured signed the title to the Corvette…
I’ve often said that it’s inexcusable when a claim is denied for no other reason than “It’s not covered.” The insured is owed a reason for a claim denial, by contract or law. However, sometimes when I hear the reason, I think perhaps that it’s better I didn’t know because, to paraphrase Art Linkletter, “Adjusters…
Question: I am in a debate with an underwriter concerning an antique auto. We have the stated amount endorsement (PP 03 08) on the policy and the insured has an appraisal supporting this stated amount. The endorsement states that the company will pay the lesser of stated amount, ACV, or cost to repair. Our debate…
Rain water entered an insured’s camper trailer during a rain storm. Apparently the seals on the roof of the trailer had deteriorated and water leaked into the interior, causing damage to the ceiling, walls, and cabinets. The insurer has denied the claim based on the “wear and tear” exclusion in the policy. Do you agree?
The PAP defines “collision” to involve impact of an insured auto with another auto or object. Comprehensive, or “other than collision” (OTC) coverage applies to contact with a bird or animal. So, if you hit a pedestrian, is it a comprehensive or a collision loss?
In 1973, the insured had a 1967 Chevy Corvette stolen. It was reported to the police and the insurer paid $2,500 for the claim. The car was recovered last October, completely stripped. The police called the insured and released the car to him. The insured sold the car to a friend who restores Vettes. The…
Your insured had a tire blowout. The tire came apart and the tread came up into the fender housing, damaging it, the hood, and part of the firewall. The adjuster denied the claim on the basis that blowouts aren’t covered. Do you agree? If so, why? If not, what is the basis for coverage and…
An insured backed one of her vehicles into another one. Both are insured under the same PAP for the same $1,000 deductible amount. The insurer’s claims department set up two separate claims and is charging two deductibles. The policy appears to clearly state only one deductible applies, but the adjuster says their “procedures” require two…
