Definition of "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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Break in commercial activities due to the occurrence of a peril. Coverage against business interruption by various named perils can be obtained through insurance. ...

Financial instruments whose principal and income are not established in advance according to contractual terms set forth in the financial instruments document. Both the principal and income ...

Federal law comparable to state workers compensation statutes setting out liability of railroads for work-related injuries or death of their employees. Railroad employees are not covered by ...

Policies that have been sold to and paid for by an insured, but not yet delivered to the insured. ...

Same as term Excess of Loss Reinsurance: method whereby an insurer pays the amount of each claim for each risk up to a limit determined in advance and the re-insurer pays the amount of the ...

Bonds that are sold at discount from their maturity value with the interest compounding and paid at the bond's maturity date. Even though these bonds do not pay interest until maturity, the ...

To transfer a risk from an insurance company to a reinsurance company. ...

Individual prohibited under the employee retirement income security act of 1974 (erisa) from conducting transactions with a trust plan. The prohibition is intended to prevent a conflict of ...

Effort by an individual to continue to receive disability income benefits by taking a continuing sickness or injury. ...

Popular Insurance Questions