Course Description
The Excellence In Claims Handling program provides everything the insurance claims person needs to properly represent the insurer when presented with a first-party property claim. It also provides the person or entity insured, its risk manager or CFO with everything needed to present a claim to effectively present the claim and provides the information needed to obtain the maximum indemnity promised by the insurance policy.
The course explains the legal basis for the interpretation of the property insurance policy contract and how courts interpret those contracts.
Insurance is a contract of personal indemnity. A first-party property insurance policy makes multiple promises including a promise to provide indemnity to the insured in case of a loss by a peril - like fire - insured against. The first-party property policy imposes obligations on the claims person and the insured so that the insured can, with the assistance of the insurance claims professional, prove to the insurer that the loss was caused by a peril insured against, the extent of the loss to repair or replace the property with material of like kind and quality and negotiate a settlement acceptable to both the insured and the insurer.
The course is presented in increments that can be reviewed at the convenience of the student whether viewed in short increments with the student's first cup of coffee in the morning or as the last effort of the day. Repetition also aids in learning. When all of the course increments are completed the student will be able to announce that he or she is a first-party property claims professional and knows everything needed to either investigate and adjust a property insurance claim or everything needed to present a first-party property claim to an insurer so that the indemnity promised by the policy can be obtained quickly, effectively and without dispute.
What am I going to get from this course?
Excellence in First Party Property Insurance Claims
The insured, risk manager, or corporate counsel will be able to present a first party property claim - whether a fire, theft, or windstorm or some other insured against cause - with little difficulty and professionalism and present a sworn proof of loss acceptable to an insurer.
The insurance claims person completing the course will be able conduct a thorough investigation of the policy and claim. The insurance claims person will also be able to assist an insured to fulfill all of the promises made by the insured to the insurer and the insurer to provide the indemnity promised by the insurance policy.
The student will have a basic understanding of insurance law and how that law is applied to the interpretation of the insurance contract.
Prerequisites and Target Audience
What will students need to know or do before starting this course?
That they want to know how to understand insurance and how the law applies to insurance contracts.
The course is capable of providing information needed without the assistance of material or software. However, it can be supplemented by books written by the author and available at
http://www.zalma.com/blog/insurance-claims-library/ with materials like
The Homeowners Insurance Policy,
Zalma on Insurance Claims - ten Volumes,
Construction Defects and Insurance,
Mold Claims, and “Insurance Fraud & Weapons to Defeat Insurance Fraud,” The Compact Book of Adjusting Property Insurance Claims-Second Edition; Construction Defects and Insurance (eight volumes); Mold Claims (four volumes); Ethics for the Insurance Professional; Rescission of Insurance; The Insurance Examination Under Oath; Zalma on Property and Casualty Insurance; Insurance Law Deskbook; Insurance Bad Faith and Punitive Damages Deskbook; The Commercial Property Insurance Policy Deskbook; The Insurance Fraud Deskbook; Diminution in Value Damages; and Property Investigation Checklists Uncovering Insurance Fraud, 12th Edition.
Who should take this course? Who should not?
The course should be taken by risk managers, corporate counsel, insurance claims management, insurance claims executives, insurance claims adjusters, insurance claims representatives, insurance special investigation unit investigators, public insurance adjusters, insurance coverage lawyers, insurance paralegals, and claims personnel of insurance agencies or insurance brokerages.
Curriculum
Lecture 1
Contracts for the Insurance Professional
Since insurance policies are contracts this lecture explains the law of contracts for the insurance professional so that the insurance professional can understand how the law of contracts applies to the investigation and resolution of a property insurance claim.
Lecture 2
The Need for Insurance
Lecture 3
The Making of a Contract
Lecture 4
What is a Contract?
Lecture 5
What is a Contract? - Part 2
Lecture 6
What is a Contract? - Part 3
Lecture 7
What is a Contract? - Part 4
Lecture 8
What is a Contract? - Part 5
Lecture 9
How are Contracts Interpreted
Lecture 10
How are Contracts Interpreted- Part 2
Lecture 11
How are Contracts Interpreted - Part 3
Lecture 12
How are Contracts Interpreted - Part 4
Lecture 13
How are Contracts Interpreted - Part 5
Lecture 14
Breach of Contract
Lecture 15
Breach of Contract- Part 2
Lecture 16
Breach of Contract - Part 3
Lecture 18
The Law of Torts
Lecture 19
What is a Tort?
Lecture 20
What is a Tort? - Part 2
Lecture 21
What is a Tort? - Part 3
Lecture 22
What is an Intentional Tort?
Lecture 23
What is an Intentional Tort?- Part 2
Lecture 24
What is an Intentional Tort? - Part 3
Lecture 25
Strict Liability
Lecture 26
Absolute Liability-Liability for Dangerous Animals
Lecture 27
Wrongful Death
Lecture 28
Prima Facie Case of Negligence
Lecture 30
Defenses to Intentional Torts
Module 3: The Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations and SIU Regulations
Lecture 31
Compliance with Insurance Claim Regulations
Lecture 32
The Reason for Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations
Lecture 33
The Reason for Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations - Part 2
Lecture 34
The Reason for Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations - Part 3
Lecture 35
Important Definitions
Lecture 36
The Reason for Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations- Part 5
Lecture 37
Compliance with Good Faiith Settlement Practices Regulations
Lecture 38
Complaince with Good Faith Settlement Practices Regulations - Part 2
Lecture 39
Complaince with Good Faith Settlement Practices Regulations - Part 3
Lecture 40
Complaince with Good Faith Settlement Practices Regulations - Part 4
Lecture 41
Section 2695.7. Standards for Prompt , Fair and Equitable Settlements
Lecture 42
Section 2695.8 Additional Standards Applicable to Automobile Insurance
Lecture 43
Compliance with Good Faith Settlement Practices Regulations
Lecture 44
Section 2695.11 Additional Standards Applicable to Life and Disability Insurance Claims
Lecture 45
Time Constraints Section 2695.7
Lecture 46
Attempting to settle a Claim
Lecture 47
The California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations
Lecture 48
Findings of the Complaince with Good Faith Settlement Practices Regulations