When was the last time you read and understood your home or business insurance policy?
Most people have difficulty understanding the technical language of their insurance policy and the complicated procedures they must follow to comply with the policy’s terms.
Most people do not realize that insurance company adjusters are trained professionals who represent the interests of the insurance company that employs them.
You can protect your best interests by employing an accredited public adjuster whose sole responsibility is to serve you, the insured.
Accredited public adjusters are retained for the adjustment of insured claims due to fire, wind, water, vandalism and other perils. The public insurance adjuster serves commercial businesses, financial institutions, professional firms, homeowners and the general insuring public.
If a loss occurs, you should give immediate consideration to engaging the services of a public insurance adjuster. This information will help you understand how a public insurance adjuster works for you.
What is a public insurance adjuster?
An authority on loss adjustments who you retain to assist you in preparing, filing and adjusting your insurance claims.
How can an accredited public insurance adjuster help me?
You will have the advantage of expert assistance based on great experience in handling numerous technical problems. A public insurance adjuster relieves you of the many time-consuming and difficult matters involved in preparing and filing a claim -– and helps you to receive a prompt and fair settlement.
Can I prepare my own claim?
Sure, but it stands to reason that the accredited public insurance adjuster who has years of experience and training can do so with more competence than the policyholder.
More specifically, a public insurance adjuster will assist you in the preparation of inventories, estimates and other factual proofs of loss. They will handle all the necessary details for compiling and filing claims, as required by the terms of your insurance policies. The public insurance adjuster will also confer, on your behalf, with the insurance company representatives and handle all matters essential to a proper and satisfactory adjustment.
Why do I need help in filing an insurance claim?
The typical fire policy contains hundreds of provisions and stipulations – various forms and riders that are constantly changing and many complex details about your requirements in case of loss. Most people do not know or understand these policy provisions – and most do not realize that the burden of proof is on them, the policyholder. Many insurance company representatives actually prefer to work with an experienced accredited public insurance adjuster rather than an inexperienced insured.
An accredited public insurance adjuster not only has your confidence, but also that of company adjusters who recognize that they are dealing with a professional.
In the event of a fire or similar destruction of property does my insurance pay the entire loss?
This depends upon the type and amount of insurance you carry. It also depends on your expertise or the expertise of your representative, not that of the insurance company’s adjuster. Most insurance policies may pay more than the amount shown on the declaration page. A qualified expert working for you can determine everything to which you’re entitled to.
Why should I engage a public insurance adjuster to obtain what is rightfully due me?
Insurance companies offer to pay what is due you as they see it. Public insurance adjusters are your exclusive representatives. With their experience and knowledge they are better able to obtain more favorable adjustment for you, the insured.
What is the extent of their responsibility?
A public insurance adjuster assists with every phase of preparing and presenting your claim, as well as accomplishing an adjustment for you, which is equitable and includes everything to which you are entitled under your insurance policy.
How do they determine the actual loss?
They take a physical inventory, obtain all pertinent appraisals and make sure all provisions in your policy are properly fulfilled. This often involves numerous steps of which you may know little or nothing about but can make a significant difference in the amount of the final adjustment.
What special help can the accredited public insurance adjuster give me with technical questions?
They are the experts to turn to when such matters arise. They are concerned only with is your best interests. With their broad experience and specialized knowledge, they will prepare your claim so that you can recover to the fullest extent on your insurance coverage. It is up to you to prove your loss. There are many questions and problems as to how the policy provisions can be applied in different circumstances.
Are they trained specialists?
Yes. The public insurance adjuster must, in virtually all jurisdictions, be tested, licensed, bonded and authorized to practice their profession.
When you deal with a public insurance adjuster you can be confident that your claim is being adjusted by a fully-qualified professional.
Will a public insurance adjuster help me receive a more prompt and satisfactory settlement?
Yes. They lose no time in complying with the policy requirements to obtain and evaluate the facts and prepare the claim. The alert, knowledgeable and prompt service they render often preserves evidence that may otherwise be overlooked or destroyed. The more thoroughly and completely your claim is compiled and prepared, the faster the public insurance adjuster can accomplish an equitable and proper settlement in your best interest.
Once a policyholder has witnessed the skill and knowledge of the accredited public insurance adjuster, they rarely will attempt to settle a claim without the benefit of their specialized assistance. The public insurance adjuster’s most frequent source of new clients is the recommendations of those they have previously served.
How much do they charge for their services?
A public insurance adjuster’s charge is a percentage of the insurance company’s settlement with you. By seeking to maximize your settlement, the public insurance adjuster’s services can save you the cost of their fees, at the very least.
In the event of a loss, what steps should I take?
Promptly report the loss to the agent or broker, or directly to the insurance company – and immediately retain the services of an accredited public insurance adjuster to serve you.
Do public insurance adjusters take care of claims other than fire?
Yes. They will assist you in any claims you may have due to windstorm, explosion and any other insured losses that are sustained (inland marine, business interruption, rental income, improvements and betterments, commission and profit, reporting forms, additional expense, etc.).
Do they sell insurance or act as insurance agents?
No, if they were to do so they would become a representative of the insurance company – and they would no longer represent you exclusively and independently.