Doing Your Part During the Claims Process

If you are ever in the unfortunate position of needing to file a claim on your aviation insurance policy, there are some steps that you can take to help the process move as efficiently as possible. The goal for the insured, as well as for the broker, is to get the claim resolved promptly and to the satisfaction of all parties so the insured can move forward after the event. While there can be situations that cause a snag in the process, everyone involved has the same goal, and with the right approach, you can be a factor in accomplishing a speedy claims process.

• Periodically review your policy to be sure the limits provided reflect what is needed by the insured in the event of a claim. In addition, it’s a good idea to review the exclusions listed on your policy. You may find an exclusion that needs to be addressed, which is as simple as contacting your broker.
• Contact your broker as soon as possible after the incident. This will allow the broker and the carrier to start the process immediately. If the broker or carrier request any further documentation or conversation during the process, things will move along much faster if the insured replies promptly.
• Understand that during the claims process, the insured, broker, and carrier all work as a team to resolve the claim. All parties working together provides for a less stressful and quicker resolution.
• “Like kind and quality” is a phrase that you may run across that surprises some insureds. The carrier’s goal is to get the aircraft back in the air with like kind and quality parts when applicable — to get the aircraft back to the condition that it was in prior to the incident — rather than providing everything brand-new.
• Be sure that anyone who operates the aircraft is either a named pilot or meets the criteria listed on the policy by the carrier. If a pilot is at command who is not trained or does not have the credentials that meet the pilot requirements, it may cause an issue with the claim, or the damage may not be covered at all.