When disaster strikes, you'll find yourself thanking your lucky stars for your insurance policy. However, many homeowners and vehicle owners end up getting an insurance experience they don't expect. After the hassle of dealing with your insurer to file and process your claim, it's a defeating feeling when they low-ball you with 25% of the claim amount.
This scenario is more common than your think. Insurance companies are like any other business; they are in it to make money. They collect premiums and then do the best they can to avoid paying out or short-change policyholders on their claim.
To get an accurate assessment of your property damage, the insurer will send an in-house or independently contracted insurance adjuster to your property to assess the damage. The issue with this situation is that the adjuster might not total the claim as you expect, resulting in a lower payment to you from your insurer.
The adjuster has no legal obligation to you; they work in the best interests of the insurer, not you.
The Priorities of Public Adjusters and Insurance Adjuster
After reading that introduction, you probably think that insurance is a rigged game. The reality is that you are not far off with your assumption. So, how can you get a fair deal from your insurer when filing your claim? The answer is to hire a public adjuster.
What is a public adjuster, and how do they differ from a company or independent adjusters?
As mentioned, the insurance adjuster works for the insurer. A public adjuster works for you; they have your interests in mind when filing and processing your claim. As a result, you get a much more favorable assessment than you do with a company adjuster.
The public adjuster does everything an in-house or independent adjuster does at your property. The public adjuster has a license to operate in the state, and they typically have relationships with the claims departments of all top insurance companies.
As a result, they know the procedures and people to deal with when handling your claim. This kind of inside information is vital in the speed and efficacy of your claim. The public adjuster's goal is to land you the best payout from the insurer possible while making the process as stress-free as possible for you.
The public adjuster is an insurance expert, and they review your policy to see if you have a claim. After reviewing your policy, the public adjuster will start assessing the damage. Typically, they will do a better job of the assessment, counting in property damage that in-house assessors might overlook.
