Few things are more frustrating for a property owner than watching a valid insurance claim grind to a halt. After months of back-and-forth, endless requests for documentation, and “pending” status updates, you may start to wonder if your claim will ever close.
At this point, many policyholders don’t realize they have a powerful option: bringing in a claims umpire or independent consultant. These professionals act as neutral, qualified experts who can cut through deadlock, clarify the scope of loss, and move negotiations toward fair settlement.
Why Claims Stall in the First Place
Insurance claims can stall for many reasons—most of them tied to information gaps, disagreement, or inertia inside the insurer’s review process. Common culprits include:
- Disputed valuations — Your contractor’s estimate and the insurer’s valuation are miles apart.
- Incomplete documentation — Key details, photos, or line items are missing or disputed.
- Adjuster turnover — New adjusters restart reviews from scratch.
- Complex loss scenarios — Fire, water, or structural claims involving multiple experts drag out.
- Coverage interpretation issues — Policy language is being debated internally by the carrier.
Each delay compounds stress and financial strain on property owners trying to repair and recover.
The Role of a Claims Umpire
A claims umpire is a neutral third party typically brought in after two appraisers—one representing the policyholder, one for the insurer—cannot agree on a valuation. The umpire reviews both sides’ documentation, conducts their own analysis, and issues a binding decision on the amount of loss.
Key advantages:
- Brings impartiality and closure to long-running disputes.
- Reduces legal expenses compared to litigation.
- Accelerates settlement timelines from months or years to weeks.
- Maintains goodwill between carrier and insured by keeping negotiations professional.
TD Group’s experienced umpires have resolved dozens of complex commercial and multi-family property claims where negotiations had completely stalled.
The Role of an Independent Consultant
While an umpire is typically neutral, an independent consultant (like TD Group) can be retained directly by the policyholder to level the playing field before or during disputes.
We provide:
- Detailed damage assessments using infrared imaging, drone surveys, and moisture mapping.
- Scope of loss analysis that aligns real-world costs with policy language.
- Negotiation support that translates technical findings into clear, defensible claim documentation.
An independent consultant is particularly valuable when you suspect your claim is being undervalued, or when technical building issues are causing confusion for non-specialist adjusters.
5 Signs It’s Time to Bring in Outside Help
- You’re on your third or fourth adjuster, and each one wants to “start over.”
- Weeks pass with no updates despite repeated follow-ups.
- The insurer’s offer doesn’t cover actual repair bids or ignores code-upgrade costs.
- Technical reports are being questioned or re-interpreted by non-engineers.
- Your business or property remains disrupted, and timelines keep slipping.
If these sound familiar, you’re likely beyond the point where patience alone will fix the situation.
How the Process Works
- Initial Assessment – We review your claim file, policy, and correspondence to pinpoint the bottleneck.
- Independent Evaluation – TD Group’s specialists conduct inspections, gather forensic data, and quantify loss.
- Engagement Path – Depending on circumstances, we can serve as your independent consultant or help appoint a neutral umpire.
- Resolution – Our findings often lead to settlement before formal appraisal or umpire review, saving you time and cost.
The Results: Faster, Fairer Settlements
Property owners who bring in independent expertise early typically experience:
- Higher claim accuracy (based on typical undervaluation corrections).
- Significant time savings, avoiding months of re-reviews.
- Peace of mind, knowing the technical and procedural aspects are being handled by experts.
Final Thoughts
Insurance claims don’t have to drag on indefinitely. When communication breaks down or valuations stall, a claims umpire or independent consultant can reset the process toward fair resolution.
If your property claim has stalled—or you suspect it’s being undervalued—The David Group can help evaluate the situation and recommend the right next step, whether that’s independent consulting or a formal umpire process.