Perito

16:14 Nov 17, 2011 

Hello Tina, if your target audience is the UK you should use "loss adjuster". It's the term I see when I translate (re)insurance documents (EN>SP) from English reinsurance companies.

15:01 Nov 17, 2011 

I hadn't mentioned it, because it was more of a hunch in the context of my experience, but I had always thought that the increased usage of appraisal in my client's case was because of increasing dealings with N.Am "partners". So this fits in.

14:15 Nov 17, 2011 

In the light of Neil's comment, it looks as though your choice of term will depend on the target of the translation: "appraiser" if it's for America and "loss adjuster" if it's for the UK.

14:12 Nov 17, 2011 

I had a hunch that might be it: another US/UK difference. Thank you very much for clearing that up. What you say makes perfect sense. I am British, and I must say that until I started to research this my impression was that the "perito" was called a loss adjuster. So Noni's experience of "appraiser" coming in is presumably an example of creeping American usage.

14:01 Nov 17, 2011 

Charles's comment relates to US practice.
Appraiser is not used in UK insurance.

In the UK, a loss adjuster is an independent professional instructed by an insurance to investigate a loss, confirm that the loss comes within the policy cover and to assess a fair settlement.
In marine insurance, the term used is "average adjuster"

10:39 Nov 17, 2011 

This distinction is sometimes made (this is the appraiser in Charles' terms).

09:55 Nov 17, 2011 

As I understand it, the "loss adjustor" or "claims adjustor" is an employee of the insurance company and his/her job is to determine the cost that the company must meet in respect of the claim. The appraiser is the person who evaluates the damage and may be an company employee or an independent evaluator.

"WHAT IS AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR?
An Insurance Adjustor is employed by the Insurance Company, and is often referred to as the 'file handler'.
The adjustor is normally located at the home office - to oversee the entire claim process. The adjustor has final say and management power over claim transactions.
WHAT IS AN INSURANCE APPRAISER?
An Appraiser appraises your vehicle, they are normally out in the field from day to day. They can be either employed by the insurance company or a member of an independent appraisal company.
The Appraiser will be the one to physically assess the damage of your vehicle."
http://www.bumpertobumper.net/accihel/answers/whaisaadj.html

This distinction may be specifically American. The "perito" can certainly be the appraiser, and indeed the insured can call in an independent "perito". Whether the adjustor is also called "perito" I'm afraid I'm not sure.