Public Adjuster vs Insurance Adjuster: Key Differences

If you've ever had to deal with an insurance claim, you might have come across the terms "public adjuster" and "insurance adjuster." While they both help with insurance claims, they have some key differences.

A public adjuster is hired by the policyholder to represent their interests and help with the claims process. This can be especially helpful if you're dealing with a complex or disputed claim.

Insurance adjusters, on the other hand, work for the insurance company and are responsible for determining the extent of the damage and the amount of the payout. They may also try to minimize the payout amount to benefit the insurance company.

Public adjusters work independently and are not beholden to any insurance company. They can provide expert guidance and advocacy to help policyholders get the compensation they deserve.

Public adjusters and insurance adjusters are often confused with one another. However, they have distinct roles and responsibilities.

The National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters has a directory on its site where you can find the closest member, who must meet requirements and abide by a code of conduct.

Public adjusters work on behalf of policyholders, advocating for their interests and helping them navigate the claims process.

A large claim can get confusing really fast, especially when dealing with multiple insurance adjusters. Your insurance company could assign three different adjusters to work on your claim: one for damage to the dwelling, one for your personal property, and one for additional living expenses.

Unfortunately, this can put you at a disadvantage, especially if you're not familiar with the claims process. You'll face a process that could easily stretch out for some time, require detailed paperwork, and leave you mentally and physically exhausted.

Hiring a public claims adjuster can put you on an even playing field with your insurance company. This is because a public adjuster works on your behalf, handling meetings, emails, phone calls, and paper documents.

Not every claim requires a public adjuster, and in most cases, a company adjuster is more than capable of doing the job effectively. However, a public adjuster can be helpful or worth their cost in the event of a very large claim or total loss of a home.

You can always request another company adjuster if you don't like the one assigned to you. This gives you some control over the process and allows you to choose the adjuster who best represents your interests.

Before hiring a public adjuster, it's essential to check their credentials. Public insurance adjusters must be licensed in every individual state where they practice.

A public adjuster can be a game-changer when dealing with a large homeowners insurance claim. They can explain the process and work on your behalf handling meetings, emails, phone calls, and paper documents.

You're at a disadvantage when dealing with a large claim, as it can be confusing and stressful. A public adjuster can put you on an even playing field with your insurance company.

Most families know little or nothing about insurance, let alone the claims process. This is where a public adjuster comes in handy, as they can help navigate the process.

A public adjuster's fee is often a percentage of the total claim, typically ranging between 10% to 20% depending on the state and claim type. In Florida, for example, fees cannot exceed 20% for reopened or supplemental claims.

In most cases, a public adjuster is not needed, especially for routine claims. However, they can be worth the cost for very large claims or total losses of a home.

Here are some scenarios where hiring a public adjuster might be worth considering:

A public adjuster can help you maximize your claim, finding language in your insurance contract that can result in thousands of dollars extra for your claim, even on smaller claims.

Using a public adjuster can be a game-changer for policyholders. They use sophisticated software to perform an independent evaluation of a client's property loss.

A public adjuster's expertise can save you a lot of time and labor. They gather highly detailed claim information that can be challenging for a policyholder to compile.

Having a public adjuster on your side can also protect you from pitfalls due to inexperience. They help clients negotiate with contractors and insurers.

Here are some key benefits of working with a public adjuster:

To choose a public adjuster, you should first check their credentials. Public insurance adjusters must be licensed in every individual state where they practice, and like some other professionals, they're required to participate in continuing education courses to maintain their licensure.

Never hire an unlicensed contractor or attorney for claim adjustment services if they are not licensed. Practicing without a license is against the law and the license is an important benchmark of knowledge and qualification.

If you're looking for a public adjuster, you can find the closest member through the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters' directory on their website. Members must meet requirements and abide by a code of conduct.

A public adjuster can be a valuable asset when dealing with complex or high-value claims. Consider hiring one if you're filing a large claim for significant or complex damage to your home, or if you're not confident with the assessment performed by your insurer's adjuster.

Before hiring a public adjuster, check their credentials. They must be licensed in every individual state where they practice, and like some other professionals, they're required to participate in continuing education courses to maintain their licensure.

It's essential to hire an adjuster who is licensed, as practicing without a license is against the law. A license is an important benchmark of knowledge and qualification.

You should also consider whether the adjuster will be handling your claim personally or if they will be sending multiple adjusters to work on different aspects of your claim.

A public adjuster's fee is often a percentage of the amount the insurance carrier pays for the policyholder's claim. The fee percentage varies between adjusters and is usually capped by local or state law.

If you're dealing with a large claim or total loss of a home, hiring a public claims adjuster can put you on an even playing field with your insurance company. This can be especially helpful if you're unfamiliar with the insurance claims process.

To determine if you need a public adjuster, consider the following circumstances: you're filing a large claim for high-value, significant or complex damage to your home, you're not confident with the assessment performed by your insurer's adjuster, you feel your insurer's adjuster underestimated your claim or that your payout isn't fair, or you need assistance with a complex claim or the claims process.

Here are some questions to ask a potential public adjuster:

Keep in mind that more experienced adjusters may charge a higher fee, but a very experienced adjuster might only take on a dozen claims per year, working on large, complicated claims for high dollar amounts.

You don't need to hire an attorney to dispute an insurance claim, public insurance adjusters can handle this for you. However, if your adjuster negotiates with the insurance company and still believes you're owed a larger settlement, litigation might be the next step.

Hiring an attorney and going to court is usually a last resort, but it's an option if the cost of hiring an attorney is worth the desired settlement. Fortunately, insurance companies rarely refuse to negotiate with public adjusters or pay the desired settlement.

If an insurance company refuses to negotiate with a public adjuster or pay the desired settlement, hiring an attorney and going to court is the only option. This is a relatively uncommon situation, but it's essential to know your rights and options.