Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution Services In Alberta

When it comes to figuring out the value of your insured property with your insurance company after a disaster has taken hold of your assets, it is important to ensure that you are receiving proper compensation for what you are owed. All too often, reparation for insured losses does not amount to what they are truly worth, especially when the victim chooses to go it alone. It is for this reason that decisions about the value of the property recovered, the cost of necessary repairs or replacements, and the amount owed by the insurance company for unsalvageable losses should be mediated by an insurance lawyer via the dispute resolution process outlined in section 519 of the Insurance Act. Need help with dispute resolution in Alberta? Contact us today!

How Dispute Resolution Works

As articulated in the Insurance Act, the dispute resolution process must be used when pursuing an insurance claim settlement with your insurance company. Up to 10 days after coming to the conclusion that there is a discrepancy in terms of how much the insured loss is worth and how much the insured is owed, your insurance company must provide you with a copy of the official dispute resolution process. Or, if you wish to initiate the process, you may take the following steps:

Proof Of Loss.
Attain a proof of loss form from a third-party adjuster, fill it out in legible writing, and file it with your insurance company.
Representation.
Within a week after filing the form, designate an insurance claim lawyer to represent you and your case. Your insurance company will do the same, and this will be at each party’s own expense. As with many other legal cases, the appointee cannot be an employee of either party, and it is always best to choose a respected insurance claim attorney that has a breadth of industry knowledge.
Umpire.
If the case has been disputed and the representatives still do not come to a conclusion about the value of the insured loss or how much the insured is owed, they must elect an umpire to mediate the rest of the process. Alberta’s Superintendent of Insurance can choose one for the case if the parties are unable to choose one for themselves. To do this, simply send an application to the Superintendent to Select an Umpire - General Insurance and Hail Crop Insurance of Alberta. He or she will then use the information given by the representatives of each party to form a written conclusion.
Final Decision.
Given that the umpire is the final dictator of the result of the case, the outcome he or she rules is irreversible and binding for both parties regarding what the loss is worth.

Reasons To Pursue Dispute Resolution

The dispute resolution process was originally set forth in order to provide a formal process wherein neither the insured or the insurer would be at a disadvantage. If the insurance company were to deny coverage, the insured would have a much harder time getting the proper compensation and would have to sue for coverage. This is where dispute resolution comes in — it is used to quantify the loss as an alternative to suing. At We Settle Your Claim Law, we recommend that the insured consult their insurance lawyer for a second opinion on the case, and we offer free consultations.

With the dispute resolution process, the insured is obligated to appoint an experienced insurance claim lawyer to take on their case rather than having to navigate the legal realm by themselves and potentially lose even more than they already have.

Furthermore, the Insurance Act states that the insurance company cannot be sued but that they must undergo the dispute resolution process — a rule that applies to every insurance company in the province. In other words, this process allows us the opportunity to help solve discrepancies about the amount of the claim in an intelligent way.

Our Insurance Claim Lawyers Can Represent You

At We Settle Your Claim Law in Alberta, our insurance claim lawyers understand how tedious this process can be, which is why we offer our legal services for victims of insured loss throughout Alberta. It is our mission to salvage relationships between the insured and their insurance company while getting the victim the compensation they deserve after suffering an insured loss. To do this, we will appoint a representative who has your best interests in mind and will work closely with you through the entire legal process until a settlement has been made. If you have any questions or are looking for a seasoned insurance claim lawyer to represent you, contact us today.