Abandonment Clause
In marine insurance, clause giving an insured the right to abandon lost or damaged property and still claim full settlement from an insurer (subject to certain restrictions). Two types of losses are provided for under abandonment clauses:
- Actual total lossproperty so badly damaged it is unrepairable or unrecoverable; causes include fire, sinking, windstorm damage, and mysterious disappearance. For example, until the 1980s the Titanic, which sank off Newfoundland in 1912, was deemed to be unrecoverable and the Commercial Union Insurance Company had paid its owners for their loss due to sinking. Owners of ships that mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle have been able to collect insurance proceeds. Disappearance of pleasure craft due to drug pirates has resulted in indemnification of owners through insurance proceeds.
- Constructive total lossproperty so badly damaged that the cost of its rehabilitation would be more than its restored value. For example, a ship and/or its cargo is damaged to such a degree that the cost of repair would exceed its restored value. The insured can abandon the property if (a) repair costs are greater than 50% of the value of the property after it has been repaired and (b) the insurance company agrees to the insured's intent to abandon.
Popular Insurance Terms
Time during which an assessment life insurance company has the right to assess policyholders if losses are worse than anticipated in the premium charged. ...
Termination of premium payments by an employer on behalf of an employee to an employee benefit plan. ...
One who purchases insurance, usually property and liability and not life or annuities, by utilizing his or her own employee purchaser or licensed broker/agent at a minimum annual premium of ...
Performance of a deed or function. Certain acts are prohibited from coverage in insurance. For example, if the insured commits a felony, the insured's beneficiary cannot collect under the ...
Licensed agent's signature on an insurance policy. ...
Extent of the loss caused by accidents. Used in predicting the dollar amount of losses upon which the premiums are based. ...
Coverage that protects a business, up to the policy limits, if actions or non-actions of the insured result in a legally enforceable claim for bodily injury, property damage, or personal ...
Account in which the same interest rate is credited on all premiums regardless of the time period and amount contributed. ...
Coverage against hail damage to crops. Coverage is on a proportionate basis; that is, in the event of loss, a farmer will recover an amount based on the ratio of the damaged part of a crop ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.