What is a claimant?

• A. The insured has no role in pursuing the claim.
• B. The person pursuing their claim directly against the at-fault person or the at-fault's insurance company.
• C. The insurance adjuster handling the claim.
• D. A lawyer representing the insured.

Answer: (B)

A claimant is the person who initiates a claim for damages. In an auto-accident scenario, that means the individual pursuing compensation directly against the other driver who caused the damage or against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The person who handles the claim for the insurer is the adjuster, not the claimant. A lawyer may represent the claimant, but the term itself identifies who is making the claim, not who represents them. The insured can be the claimant, since they may choose to pursue compensation, but the essential idea is that the claimant is the one bringing the claim for payment.