What Does a Public Adjuster Do?

A public adjuster is an independent insurance professional that a policyholder can hire to help resolve an insurance claim on their behalf. They are the only property loss professionals who work solely for the policyholder, and individuals and businesses may choose to hire them when they need assistance filing a claim or believe that the amount offered by an insurance company is incorrect. The public adjuster is paid by the policyholder, usually a percentage of the claim amount, and they may be hired if the policyholder has a potentially significant claim and wants to ensure that everything is covered. If a policyholder has difficulty managing all the details of their claim, they can hire a claims assistance professional. Today, you can find an authorized public adjuster who will handle the processing of your claim and negotiate a settlement on your behalf at a “contingent” (percentage) fee.

A public adjuster works only for the policyholder, not for insurers. Many public adjusters don't charge a fee to visit the site of the loss and determine if they will work with the policyholder on a case. The best way to find a public adjuster is to get a recommendation from friends or family. Insurance claim adjuster jobs can be a great option; the need for adjusters remains constant over time, as catastrophes and accidents happen every day. With a licensed public adjuster on your side, you have an advocate who works to get your claim resolved quickly so you can get back to life and business sooner. If you go directly to an attorney, your lawyer will likely hire a public adjuster to investigate the claim.

If you're facing a major claim with a potentially high payment, consider the price before choosing to hire a public adjuster. Highly qualified adjusters are better able to achieve a higher benefit settlement amount than an adjuster who is not an expert. Primarily, public adjusters review their insurance policy to determine the best coverage for the loss, evaluate the cause of the loss that will trigger coverage, prepare detailed estimates of the scope and costs, often with the help of experts in remediation, toxicology, construction contractors, engineers and lawyers to prove your loss. The burden of filing a professional claim with an insurance company can be alleviated by the work of a public adjuster. The NAPIA Board of Directors lists all public adjustment firms that must have a license in their state of operation. It's probably too late to involve a public adjuster if you've signed a definitive authorization or if your claim period has been extended beyond the statute of limitations. However, if no one you know can make a recommendation, ask the public adjuster in question for contact information for some of their previous customers.