Insurance Claims & Public Adjuster FAQ's
An insurance claim is a formal request sent to an insurance company asking for compensation for damages that are covered under the terms of the insurance policy. The claim process involves listing, describing and valuing everything that was damaged or destroyed, meeting with adjusters, and sometimes contractors, and reviewing reports and estimates. It is very helpful to have a public adjuster on your side helping you navigate the process from start to finish.
Every insurance policy is different and there are many variables involved in determining whether your accident is covered. In the case of homeowners insurance, your insurance provider will dispatch an adjuster who will evaluate the damage and make a recommendation based on their experience, as well as the details of your policy and coverage. The process of filing an insurance claim varies depending on the type of coverage in question.
While all contracts are different, most insurance companies require that a prompt notice is given to the company. That means that if you have a loss you must notify your insurance company or agent right away. Furthermore, you should file your claim as quickly as possible to avoid a breach of your insurance policy, which may justify your claim being denied.
If you experience any damage or loss to your home or business, it is your responsibility to mitigate the damage. You may need to contact an emergency service company to provide mitigation services. Do not dispose of your damaged belongings or reconstruct the damage before calling your insurance company. Most policies have a condition that requires you to display the damaged property.
A Public Adjuster is a highly skilled insurance professional that has extensive knowledge of insurance policies and who specializes in the adjustment of claims. They are hired by policyholders to present, manage and negotiate their claims.
History shows that it is unlikely that you will obtain the same results. The insurance company’s adjusters represent their interests, not yours. Many company adjusters are overworked or inexperienced and it often results in the inaccurate adjustment of your claim. Therefore, many things you are entitled to receive are missed or overlooked.
Public adjusters are hired by individuals to represent them in their dealings with their insurance company. Our main objective is to get you paid every dollar you are owed under your policy. Our service is no upfront cost to you as we work on a contingency basis only and our fees are based solely on a percentage of the claim payments we bring you. Therefore, we are motivated to bring you the maximum amount available under your policy in the shortest amount of time.
The insurance company adjusters are employed by the insurance company and they are looking out for their interest and doing what they are told. On the other hand, we work for you and our loyalties are to you. We are only looking out for your interest. It is hard for insurance company adjusters not to have some sort of conflict of interest or be impartial because the insurance company pays their salary.
No, not for using the services of a public adjuster. However, you need to be aware that when you file a claim it may trigger an underwriting review which can result in a rate increase and/or other changes with your current policy and its coverage. The California Department of Insurance has attempted to limit what is sometimes called the “use it and lose it” practices of the insurance industry.
No, we work on a contingency basis. You pay us when we provide you with payment from the insurance company.
No, you can hire us after you have received payments. The only time it is too late to hire us is after any applicable time limitations have expired. Please note that we will not represent a claim that the property owner started repairing any of the damages. We recommend you contact us to review your claim if you think you may have been underpaid to determine if there are any other reasons that would prevent you from retaining us.
Your agent is not trained to adjust claims. In general, they are not familiar with construction and what it will take to restore you home or business. In almost all cases, your agent is not involved in the actual adjustment of your loss. In addition, they are usually not licensed to adjust claims and negotiate settlements on your behalf.
Public adjusters are not attorneys. We specialize in the adjustment of property damage claims. Unlike attorneys, we document the loss to support the damages and get you paid as soon as possible. Many attorneys will hire public adjusters to help them evaluate damages so they will know the extent of the damage. Also, public adjuster’s do not provide legal advice.
If you would like to learn more about the difference between a public adjuster and attorney, explore our full breakdown at https://www.avnergat.com/attorney-vs-public-adjuster/.
