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Why Insurance Companies Delay Claims — and How You Force Them to Move

Insured vs Claimant Delays, Public Adjusters, and the Nuclear Option: The Appraisal Clause

Let’s finish this properly.

At some point, emails, follow-ups, and “just checking in” stop working. When an insurance company decides to stall, the only thing that changes the outcome is changing who controls the claim.

That’s where public adjusters and the appraisal clause come in. Not as suggestions. As force multipliers.

Quick Reality Check: Two Delays, Two Playbooks

Insured’s Claim (First-Party):

Contract exists. Duties exist. Bad-faith exposure exists.

Claimant’s Claim (Third-Party):

No contract. Fewer duties. Delay is intentional pressure.

Same stall. Different weapons.

The Public Adjuster: When the Claim Stops Being Ignored

A public adjuster doesn’t “help.”

A public adjuster changes the risk profile of the file.

Public Adjuster on an Insured’s Claim

This is where insurers get nervous.

Why?

Every delay is tracked

Every excuse is documented

Every deadline matters

Bad-faith exposure increases immediately

Once a public adjuster is involved:

Adjusters stop freelancing

Supervisors step in

Legal starts watching the file

The claim stops drifting and starts moving—because now it has consequences.

Public Adjuster on a Claimant’s Claim

Different leverage. Same outcome.

In third-party claims, a public adjuster:

Forces written liability positions

Documents unreasonable delays

Escalates silence into exposure

Prepares the file for litigation or regulatory action

You’re not asking for courtesy.

You’re building pressure.

And pressure ends delays.

The Appraisal Clause: Ending Valuation Stalling Instantly

If the delay revolves around value, arguing is a waste of oxygen.

That’s when you invoke the appraisal clause.

What Appraisal Does (and Why Insurers Hate It)

Removes valuation from the adjuster

Forces both sides to appoint appraisers

Uses an umpire if needed

Eliminates “we disagree” as a delay tactic

No more reviews.

No more lowball loops.

No more waiting.

Appraisal on an Insured’s Claim

This is the kill switch for:

Total loss disputes

Diminished value

Scope-of-loss valuation fights

It’s contractual.

They can’t ignore it.

Delaying it only makes things worse for them.

That’s why files suddenly “resolve” once appraisal is mentioned correctly.

Appraisal on a Claimant’s Claim

You usually don’t have appraisal rights as a third party—but that doesn’t mean appraisal has no power.

Using:

Appraisal-grade valuations

Professional reports

Litigation-ready documentation

…signals that delay is about to get expensive.

Insurers know what comes next. Many settle before it gets there.

The Pattern Is Always the Same

Insurance companies delay while they believe:

You don’t understand the process

You won’t escalate

You won’t bring representation

You won’t force procedure

The moment that belief changes, the delay ends.

Final Truth (No Sugarcoating)

Insurance companies don’t speed up claims out of goodwill.

They speed them up when delay becomes dangerous.

Public adjusters create accountability.

Appraisal clauses remove control.

Pressure beats patience. Every time.

Need Help Ending a Stalled Claim?

Nexus Claim Services LLC

Licensed Public Adjuster & Claim Advocacy Firm

We handle:

First-party insurance claims

Third-party claim escalation

Total loss disputes

Diminished value claims

Appraisal clause invocation & representation

Phone: (254) 441-7826

If your claim is stalled, it’s not an accident.

And it doesn’t fix itself.

We fix it.

 
 
 
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