Claims adjuster

An average adjuster (English average adjusters, general adjuster ) is the expert for the settlement of a general average ( is in German language and Large general average or general average Community called ) where vessels. An average adjuster is also called the insurance adjuster. It is a professional title and the professional is part of the shipping industry. The object of the profession is a service for the parties involved in the accident resulting in damage. The pecuniary settlement of an accident is called general average and is in the Commercial Code (HGB) regulated. The international maritime law is important. An average adjuster created the damage distribution plan or statement of general average.

Tasks

When an accident can cause damage to persons, the ships involved and their cargo. In addition, environmental damage or compensation claims by third parties can be added by subsequent damage. The load and the or vessels usually belong to many different owners. Therefore, the charge and sometimes even the various components of the vessels are covered by various insurance companies in general. The different risks for one and the same thing or person may also be insured with different companies.

Presented very simply, the average adjuster has the task of determining on the basis of, in part, officially established or festzustellenden cause of damage, the damage course of events and extent of the damage, which material damage suffered by the participants, how and where these damages are covered and who reports to whom has when which payment to be paid. Or put differently: Who can be held responsible for what?

In order to fulfill this task, the average adjuster must be very well versed in national and international maritime and insurance law. He must also have detailed knowledge of seafaring and maritime trade. The profession is, to put it bluntly, a mix of attorney, expert to the arbitrator.

Is hired by the average adjuster of one of the participating cruise lines, insurance companies and charterers. The contract is a matter of trust, because if the parties have agreed on a Dispacheur, they bow usually its award (very simplified version). The scope of the delegated tasks and remuneration are set out in a contract beforehand.

The individual tasks of the adjuster are very complex and varied. It may take several months before a case is closed and employ whole teams of experts. An average adjuster goes with everything in advance and gets after successful completion of a fee of usually one to five thousand of the amount of damage that can be several million euro fast.

A regulated training for this profession does not exist. Dispacheure can be, for example shipping merchants, insurance brokers, surveyors, lawyers or sailors who have educated themselves accordingly and take the appropriate proficiency examination.

In Germany there are only about a dozen Dispacheure who work in three or four companies.

Jurisdiction

The process is associated with the voluntary jurisdiction.