Public Adjusters: 12 Helpful Topics
If you have ever suffered a property loss, you know that dealing with an insurance claim can be a daunting task. There are so many things to think about and so much paperwork to keep up with. But did you know that you don't have to go through this process alone? You can hire a public adjuster to help you with your insurance claim.
Public adjusters are professionals who are trained to understand insurance policies and claims procedures. Instead of representing the insurance company like an insurance adjuster, a public adjuster works for you. Public adjusters will survey the damage to your property, help determine what repairs need to be done, how much those repairs should cost, and help you to fulfill all of your duties required by your insurance policy. So if you are thinking about filing a property insurance claim, had an insurance claim denied or underpaid, or just want a second opinion it is important to consider hiring a public adjuster.
Most people don't even know that public adjusters exist and you might be surprised to know that they have been around for over 100 years. Public adjusters are also known as public insurance adjusters, private adjusters, public claims adjusters, private claims adjusters, private loss adjusters, and public loss adjusters most commonly abbreviated and called PAs. Public adjusters are licensed professionals who are hired directly by the policyholder to help them get everything they are owed from their insurance policy during a claim. Part of their licensing requires them to keep up-to-date with continuing education. Almost all 50 states have either created state law licensing requirements and regulations or have adopted some form of the Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act which was developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Public adjusters are not associated with any insurance company; they work for the policyholder only, not the insurance company. Public adjusters have expertise in insurance claims and construction and can be very helpful in getting a claim settled fairly. Since public adjusters work with insurance claims all of the time they have more experience dealing with the insurance company and navigating the insurance claim process. A public adjuster can help with all types of first-party claims including damages caused by wind, hail, hurricane, tornado, fire, water, and more.
If you're not sure whether or not you need to hire a public insurance adjuster, the best thing to do is to get a free consultation. Most public adjusters will give you a free consultation to assess your claim and let you know if they think they can help you. It's always better to get some professional help when dealing with your insurance claim so that you can be sure you are getting everything you're entitled to.
What is the difference between a public adjuster and an independent adjuster?
Public adjusters work for policyholders to help them get the most out of their insurance claims. A public adjuster typically works on a contingency basis, which means they are only paid if they recover funds for the policyholder. Public adjusters have a deep understanding of insurance policies and the claims process, and they use this knowledge to negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of their clients.
Independent adjusters are professionals who are hired by insurance companies to assess damages and determine liability after a property loss. They do not work on a contingency basis, and they are typically paid on a fee schedule or by the hour. Independent adjusters usually work for firms that are contracted by the insurance company and have to follow internal guidelines or agreements that are not part of the insurance policy. Due to this, they do not always have the insured's best interest in mind when handling claims. You can not legally hire an independent adjuster to represent you on a claim unless they are licensed as a public adjuster.
What is the importance of hiring a public adjuster?
When it comes to dealing with an insurance claim, it is important to have someone on your side who knows the process inside and out. This is where a public adjuster comes in. They are experts when it comes to navigating the insurance claims process, and can help make sure you get the best settlement possible.
One of the main benefits of hiring a public adjuster is that they will document all of your damages, prepare or obtain estimates for the repairs, handle all the negotiations with the insurance company, and make sure any timelines required by your policy are met. This allows you to focus on what matters and can save you both time and money in the long run.
Hiring a public adjuster can be especially important after a major loss, such as a fire or hurricane. These events can often result in large claims that are difficult for policyholders to handle on their own. A public adjuster will work diligently to make sure that all of your damages are accounted for and that you receive the full settlement to which you are entitled. If you've suffered a loss, it's important to speak with a public adjuster as soon as possible. The sooner you have someone on your side, the sooner you can start rebuilding your life.
What can a public insurance adjuster do for you?
Public insurance adjusters are professionals who work for you, the policyholder. They help to prepare all the necessary forms and estimates required by your policy, as well as help you meet any time frames set by the insurance policy. Public adjusters can also be very helpful in explaining the best way to complete repairs for your damaged property.
Most importantly, a public adjuster will be your strongest advocate when dealing with your insurance company. Insurance companies have their own adjusters who work for them and their interests. Having a professional public adjuster on your side will help level the playing field and give you the best possible chance to receive a fair settlement.
If you feel like your insurance company is not giving you the best possible settlement, or if you simply don't have the time to deal with all the paperwork and phone calls, a public insurance adjuster may be a good option for you.
Are public adjusters worth it?
When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, having a public adjuster on your side is definitely worth it. Public adjusters are licensed professionals who have extensive knowledge of insurance policies and the claims process. They work on a contingency basis, which means they are only paid if they recover funds for you, the insured. This gives you peace of mind that they are working with someone who has their best interests at heart.
Public adjusters use their knowledge and experience to negotiate on behalf of the insured and help find insurance coverage when they have been denied or told there is no coverage. They can help to protect the insured by making sure that they receive a fair settlement that covers all the damages caused by the loss. According to the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) report completed in 2010, public adjusters helped policyholders obtain 747% more on their claims compared to those who were not represented by a public adjuster.
If you feel like your insurance company is not giving you the best possible settlement, or if you don't have the time to deal with all the paperwork and phone calls, hiring a public adjuster may be the best option for you.
Why do insurance companies hate public adjusters?
Public adjusters are hired by policyholders to help them negotiate a claim with their insurance company. Unlike public insurance adjusters, the insurance company's adjuster is employed by the insurer and must follow the directives and internal guidelines provided by the insurer. A public adjuster's main responsibilities are to look out for the best interest of the policyholder and help them to obtain everything they are owed from the policy. This can lead to a higher settlement for the insured, which costs the insurance company more money.
In addition, a public adjuster is often seen as a threat to the insurer's model of business. The insurance industry spends billions of dollars every year in advertising in an attempt to create a narrative that they are on your side and are there to help you in the event of a loss. A public adjuster can show how the insurance company is not following the policy language, undercutting repair estimates, or not dealing fairly with the policyholder, which damages the narrative that the insurance company is trying to create. For some of these reasons, insurance companies generally do not favor public adjusters and will try to discourage policyholders from hiring one.
What should you expect when working with a public adjuster?
When working with a public adjuster, you can expect them to be professional and organized. You should expect that the public adjuster has experience handling your type of loss and can explain the claims process to you. They will help prepare all of your required documents, document all of your damages, and even uncover damages that you may have not noticed. Public adjusters will work on your behalf to get the best possible outcome from your insurance company.
Working with a public adjuster can be a less stressful claim experience. They will take care of everything for you so that you don't have to handle your claim personally, allowing you to focus on what's important - getting your life or business back to normal.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you. We are here to help you get the most out of your insurance claim.
What is a public adjusting firm?
A public adjusting firm is a company that has 1 or more public adjusters working for the company along with any support staff. In addition to the public adjuster being licensed the firm is also licensed in the states that they are operating. When a policyholder hires a firm they get the added benefit of a team of individuals working together to help with their claim. They also get to tap into the combined knowledge and experience of all of the individuals working for that company.
Why hire a public adjusting firm?
Public adjusting firms have multiple advantages. For one, you have more than one point of contact when you need to get in touch with someone. If there are scheduling conflicts, emergencies, or illnesses, you have other people who can fill in to help. You also have the ability to get adjusters assigned to your claim who are specialized in different types of claims or certain areas of the claim process that would be most beneficial to you. For example, if you have a water damage claim, the firm would place you with someone who specializes in that area. Finally hiring a public adjusting firm allows for more eyes throughout the claims process ensuring all details are addressed and nothing gets overlooked.
Working with a firm is the best option for a policyholder.
How can you find the right public adjuster for you?
When you experience damage to your home or business it can be a stressful and overwhelming time. While your insurance company will have its company adjusters evaluate the damage, it's often in your best interest to hire a public adjuster to work on your behalf. After all, you wouldn't represent yourself in court, would you?
You should expect a free consultation. Most reputable public adjusting firms will offer you a free claim review to ensure they are the right fit for you and that their services can be successful for you.
Here are some key things to look for when choosing a public adjuster:
- Experience: Look for a public adjuster who has experience handling your type of loss. An experienced public adjuster has come up against many different claim situations and different types of losses. They have dealt with many different insurance companies and know the right approach for each carrier. They also know what to look out for in your policy that could be beneficial or detrimental to your claim outcome.
- Reputation: Ask around and see if anyone you know has used a public adjuster in the past. If so, find out if they were happy with the results. You can also check online reviews to see what others have said about specific public adjusters or firms or even ask them for references.
- Licensing: Check with the Department of Insurance in your state to verify that the public adjuster and/or firm you are interested in working with is licensed and that their license is up-to-date.
- Communication: When looking to hire a public adjuster you need to look for someone who will keep you updated throughout the claim process and will be available to answer any questions you may have. Make sure you are clear upfront on how much or how little you want to be involved in the claim process and how you would like the communication to take place (email, text, or phone). Verify that any potential public adjuster you are looking to hire is able and willing to communicate the way you prefer.
By keeping these things in mind you can be sure to find the right public adjuster for your needs.
How much does it cost to hire a public adjuster?
Typically public adjusters get paid on a contingency basis unless the particular state dictates that they charge on an hourly basis only. Most states require that public adjusters clearly state in their contracts how they will be compensated. The benefit of hiring on a contingency basis is that you don't owe any money until they collect money from the insurance company. So, if they are not successful in getting you any money, you don't owe any money for the time they spent on your claim. Most public adjusters charge a fee percentage of 10% of the insurance claim amount but that can vary depending on how far along your insurance claim is. Some states regulate how much they can charge.
Why should you hire ProActive Claims?
The public adjusters at ProActive Claims have over 30 years of experience dealing with insurance claims and have handled tens of thousands of claims. Our staff has experience working for over a dozen different insurance companies as insurance adjusters prior to becoming public adjusters. This gives us further insight into the inner workings of these insurance carriers. We have experience dealing with homeowners insurance claims, personal property losses, business income losses, business interruption losses, commercial, apartment, industrial, and more.
So whether you have a home insurance claim or a commercial insurance claim, smaller claims, or larger claims, the public adjusters at ProActive Claims would love to see how we can help you. Contact us today to set up your free, no-obligation claim review.
