Public Adjusters Can Help Insureds Take Control of the Claims Handling Process

What will your insurance company adjuster do when he realizes you have a Public Adjuster consulting on your property claim? He’s not likely to say anything negative to you, but he’ll certainly let his coworkers know that he’s not very happy about it. Why? It’s mostly because he knows that whatever he does, an experienced independent claims professional will be looking over their shoulder.

A Public Adjuster represents the insured, so even if the insurance company adjuster doesn’t want him working on your case, he can’t do anything about it. He must cooperate. He must dot every I, cross every T; and most importantly, he must give up the idea of being in complete control of the claims handling process.

Insurance company adjusters want to be in charge

If your business or commercial property has ever been damaged due to a peril that’s covered by an insurance policy, you’ve most likely dealt with an insurance company adjuster. Whether your contact was in-person or on the phone, you probably remember that he set the tone for everything.

He asked the questions. He inspected the damage on his schedule. When all the estimates were done and it was time for the contractors to get the repair work started, the insurance company adjuster was the one who calculated how much money his company would pay. If he decided your damage wasn’t covered under the terms of your policy, it probably meant a long battle that you may still be fighting to this day.

It’s all about control

Control is an important concept when it comes to handling insurance claims. Companies train their adjusters to maintain control during the entire inspection, investigation, negotiation, and settlement process. When there are no outside influences, everything runs smoothly… at least for the insurance company. An insurance adjuster knows that when he loses control of a claim, his company could end up paying a lot more than they anticipated.

For the most part, it’s easy to exercise control over a property claim when you have the right knowledge. The insured usually knows about his damages. The contractor knows a lot about repairs. But the insurance company adjuster is the only with all of the information necessary to control the claims process.

He knows how to write and read damage estimates. He calculates depreciation and total repair costs. He reads and interprets policy language –deductibles, supplemental coverages, coinsurance clauses, exclusions, and more. And even if he doesn’t know everything, he’s still the one who will be negotiating the final settlement and issuing the checks.

A Public Adjuster can help you get control of your claim

The balance of control shifts when a public adjuster represents a policy holder. They have the same training and background as insurance company claims adjusters. They know the coverage issues, and they can calculate how much money a claim is worth just as well as the other guy.

A public adjuster can work with a contractor to be sure that nothing is overlooked. He can review the coverage with the insurance company to make certain you are being paid everything you deserve under the terms of your policy.

If there are coverage issues, he can insist that they are addressed fairly. He can help negotiate a fair settlement and assist you in submitting any formal proof of loss that’s required to conclude the claim. If damage is overlooked in the original estimates, he can follow up to make sure it’s included as a supplement. A Personal Adjuster can do everything the insurance adjuster can do, except he does it just for you.

Contact us if your personal or commercial property is damaged and you need help taking control of your claim. We can help.