Storm Chasing

More claims & insurance terms

• Staff Adjuster

  An adjuster who is a direct employee of the insurance carrier, not an independent adjuster hired for the storm. Their estimate sets the starting scope, and supplements go back to them or their supervisor for review. How much authority each one has varies by carrier.

• Statute of Limitations

  The deadline set by state law for suing over a claim, usually running from the date of loss or from the denial. How long it is and when it starts varies by state and by policy wording, so confirm the rule where the loss happened. Missing it can kill an otherwise valid claim.

• Storm Damage

  Damage caused by a weather event such as hail, wind, or a fallen limb, as opposed to age, wear, or bad installation. Carriers test cause and timing, so the claim is strongest when the loss date, the weather record, and the damage agree. An adjuster may still call some marks cosmetic or pre-existing.

• Subrogation

  An insurer's right to recover what it paid from whoever actually caused the loss, such as a careless manufacturer or another driver. It means a closed claim can reopen, so keep your photos and documents after settlement. Recovery usually goes to the paying carrier, and the rules vary by state.

• Subrogation Waiver

  A contract clause in which a party gives up the right to have its insurer pursue the other party (or that party's insurer) after a loss, common in leases and construction contracts. It can block the carrier from recovering what it paid, even when the other party caused the damage. Whether it holds up depends on the contract, the state, and the policy.

• Supplement Approval

  The carrier's written acceptance of extra work and money a contractor asked for after the first estimate. Carriers often accept some items and reject others, and the accepted items should appear on a revised estimate. Get the approval in writing before starting the added work.

Common questions