Life Insurance Glossary - A

Abandonment
For a damaged property it may not be worthwhile to go in for repairs because the cost of repairers may exceed the value of the property when repaired. The insurer is entitled to take over the interest of the assured in whatever may remain of the subject matter insured and all proprietary rights incidental thereto. In ocean marine insurance, the transfer by the insured to an insurer of all rights, title, and interest in and to the insured property, in return for the sum insured. In property insurance, abandonment is relinquishing ownership of damaged property to an insurer to permit a total loss claim to be made.

Absolute Liability
Liability for damages even though fault or negligence cannot be proven.

Absolute Ownership
Absolute ownership exits where the interest or explicit right of possession of the insured is so free from limitations, qualifications or restrictions that it cannot be taken from him without his consent.

Accident
Any Unforeseen and unexpected event is considered an accident. For insurance purposes it has to be due to external, physical and violent means.

Accidental Bodily Injury
Injury to the body as the result of an accident

Accident, Hit and Run
Accidental Death or injury arising out of the use of a motor vehicle(s) the identity whereof cannot be ascertained in spite of reasonable efforts for the purpose.

Accidental Death Benefit
A monetary compensation in addition to the face amount of a life insurance policy, payable if the insured dies as the result of an accident. Sometimes referred to as "double indemnity."

Accompanied baggage
Baggage being taken by someone with his own person whilst travelling.

Accumulation
Percentage addition to policy benefits as a reward to the insured for continuous renewal.

Acquisition Costs
The insurer's cost of putting new business in force, including the agent's commission, the cost of clerical work, fees for medical examinations and inspection reports, sales promotion expense, etc.

Act of god
Any accidental act which could not have been prevented by any amount of human care and fore thought.

Actual Total Loss
It is a loss where the goods are completely lost and become irrecoverable.

Ad valorem duty
Duty evaluated on percentage of cargo value.

Additional cover
An insurance policy extended to cover additional risk perils such as strikes. Riots and Civil commotion etc. on payment of extra premium.

Adjuster
A person who investigates and settles losses for an insurance buyer.

Adjusting
The process of settling losses with or by an insurance buyer.

Administrator
An individual or professional organization, such as a bank's trust department, appointed by the court to administer an estate when the owner dies without having made a will or without nominating an executor. An executor may also be appointed if the named executor declines to serve.

Agent
An insurance company representative licensed by the state who solicits, negotiates or effects contracts of insurance, and provides service to the policyholder for the insurer.

Aggravation of risk
To make the existing risk worse, more troublesome, etc.

Aggregate Indemnity
The maximum amount that may be collected for any disability or period of disability under the policy.

Agreed value policy
Policy which undertakes to pay a specified amount in case of total loss. Under this case the policy does not take into account the current market value.

All-risks Policy
Coverage by an insurance contract that promises to cover all losses except those losses specifically excluded in the policy. Also known as open peril coverage.

Arbitration
A form of quasi-judicial dispute resolution where an unbiased person or panel gives an opinion about quantum of loss.

Arson
The willful and malicious burning of property, often with criminal intent.

Assessor
Person who estimates the value of goods for the purpose of apportioning the sum payable by the underwriters to settle the claims. Also called as Surveyor.

Assignment
The legal transfer of one person's interest in an insurance policy to another person.

Assured
Party indemnified or promised to be indemnified against loss by means of insurance.

Average adjuster
Independent expert who assesses the liabilities of the various parties to a common maritime adventure and to classify the various items of expenditure between general and particular average, viz, ship, Freight and cargo.

Avoidance
A right which can be exercised by and underwriter to relieve him of liability under the policy because the assured has been guilty of a breach of good faith or where the risk in voyage policy has failed to attach within a reasonable time after the underwriter wrote the risk.

Award
The decision in arbitration.

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