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

Unit of the life office management association (LOMA), which prepares and administers educational materials for the Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) Program. Upon successful ...

Type of guaranteed insurance contract in which the term is fixed, the rate is fixed, and the contract owner does not participate in the insurance company's earnings. ...

Inland marine policy that covers truck drivers for loss or damage to merchandise they haul. The Interstate Commerce Commission requires this coverage for trucks engaged in interstate ...

Coverage for exposures that exhibit a possibility of financial loss. ...

In insurance, agreement between an insurer and an insured under which the insurer has a legally enforceable obligation to make all benefit payments for which it has received premiums. ...

Insurance policy sold by nonadmitted insurer. ...

process of discovering sources of loss concerning the liability risk faced by individuals and business firms. The first step in risk management is to identify the causes of a loss by ...

Coverage for motorized vehicles, each of which requires separate policies for property damage and liability exposures. Motorized vehicles are not covered under a homeowners insurance policy ...

Location that is different from an insured's home or place of business. Under the standard homeowners insurance policy, the property of the insured is covered off premises; for example, if ...

Popular Insurance Questions