A public adjuster is an independent insurance professional that a policyholder may hire to help settle a property damage insurance claim on their behalf. Locating a public adjuster may start with an internet search for “Public adjuster near me”. How does a policyholder know a good public insurance adjuster from a bad one? This video offers qualification questions that every policyholder should ask a public insurance adjuster before hiring them to represent you (and the answers you need to know) to settle your property damage insurance claim.
- How long have you been a public insurance adjuster?
- What credentials do you have for assessing fire, water, hail, and wind damage?
- What questions is the public adjuster asking you?
- What due diligence do you perform before engaging a policyholder to represent their claim?
- How do you invoice for your services?
- What percent of your claims end up in litigation?
- What percent of your claims end up in appraisal?
- How is the appraisal process different than litigation versus having a public adjuster settle claims?
- How busy are you on a scale from 1 to 10?
- What percent of prospective claims do you say “no” to sign up?
Assuming your insurance company will settle your claim fairly and promptly on your behalf can result in financial disaster. Insurance company claim representatives are engaged by insurers to represent their interests. The burden of proving claimed damages lies on the policyholder.
Policyholders seeking professional, licensed representation to handle their property damage insurance claim following a hail storm, hurricane, fire, or other disaster researching “what is a public adjuster”, may come across an overwhelming amount of information. Finding and hiring an expert public adjuster near you who is trustworthy, credible, and experienced can be a challenge. Understanding what a public adjuster does and if you should hire one can depend on several variables including the state your property is located, deductible, amount of damage, when the damage occurred, and whether your insurer has wrongfully denied your claim or acted in bad faith.
If you hire a public adjuster, the sooner in the claim process, the better. It is best if they can take over to speak on your behalf and work with the insurance adjuster right from the onset of the claim. Dealing with a catastrophic property damage loss can be very stressful, time-consuming, and expensive for any home or a business owner. For many, hiring a public adjuster means they have someone to do the thinking and negotiating on their behalf. The public adjuster becomes your advocate, acting on your behalf. This is especially important if you have experienced a large loss. Typically, the larger the claim, the bigger the disputes.
A good public adjuster will guide you through the property damage insurance claims process, work on a contingency, and get paid from the settlement amount they can get for you. Avoid any public adjuster who pressures you and, as always, read your contract carefully to make sure you understand it all before you sign. The amount varies from area to area across the country. It also varies depending on the size of the claim.
Policyholders typically pay a public adjuster on average around a 10% fee from the claim settlement. Some public adjusters will lower their percentage for large cases. For more frequently asked questions about hiring a public adjuster, please visit https://www.insuranceclaimrecoverysupport.com/faq/
This is sponsored content by insuranceclaimrecoverysupport.com.
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