If you have incurred damage to your home or business, and need to file a claim with your insurance company, it can be a stressful time.
You not only have to deal with the damages; you must endure the stress and burden of the claims process. That’s when you should ask, “What is a public adjuster and how can a public adjuster help me?”
What is a Public Adjuster?
The Insurance Information Institute defines a public adjuster as
“an independent insurance professional that a policyholder may hire to help settle an insurance claim on his or her behalf.”
There are three types of insurance claims adjusters, as defined on Wikipedia:
- staff adjusters who are employees of the insurance company
- independent adjusters who are independent contractors hired by the insurance company
- public adjusters who are employed by the policyholder.
Through your insurance company, you have access to one of their adjusters at no charge.
A public adjuster, on the other hand, does not have an affiliation with your insurance company. He or she can be hired independently by the policyholder to serve as your personal advocate to help you receive the full amount to which you are entitled. A lot of times, public adjusters will work on your claim on a contingency basis.
What is a Public Adjuster’s Role?
A public adjuster can serve as an advocate for a policyholder and offer help with interpreting, evaluating and negotiating an insurance claim. Their role helps to free up the claimant from the settlement process so he/she can focus on restoring their home or business.
Due to their expertise, public adjusters may aid in increasing the settlement value of the loss, enabling the policyholder to receive maximum return on their claim.
Responsibilities of a public adjuster on behalf of the insured include:
Coverage.
Evaluating insurance policies to determine applicable coverage.
Research & Record
Research and record damage to buildings and contents and other expenses.
Evaluate losses.
Evaluate business interruption losses.
Value
Determine values for covered damages.
Documents
Preparation, documentation and support of the insurance claim.
Settlement negotiation.
Re-opening a claim.
Re-opening a claim following discovery of a discrepancy after settlement
Related: Hiring a Public Adjuster FAQs
When is the Right Time to Contact a Public Adjuster?
Once a policyholder contacts his or her insurance company to report a loss, he/she will be assigned an adjuster by the insurance company who will assess the loss and its magnitude, gather the facts, and determine if coverage is warranted.
Bringing in a public adjuster as quickly as possible is optimal.
A public adjuster can review the facts and review the claim with the policyholder even prior to the insurance company’s adjuster’s visit. This can help the policyholder to receive the fairest settlement for losses covered under the policy. The public adjuster can also aid in negotiating amounts, during or even after settlement.
Contact Allclaims Pro Public Adjusting
You won’t need to ask “What is a public adjuster” after you speak with our experienced staff at Allclaims Pro Public Adjusting. We’ll walk you through each course of action. When you have a loss, call us first.
As a fully licensed, bonded and insured public adjusting firm, Allclaims Pro works hard to ensure that you receive everything you are owed after you incur a loss. Leave the stress and burden of the claims process to us.