Hiring a Public Adjuster Can Help Settle Your Insurance Claim

As with most self-sufficient adults, you might not consider hiring a public adjuster to manage your property damage claim. You might not even know what a public adjuster does. But when you are trying to recover from a catastrophic loss, it’s a good time to find out. PAs handle complex claim and coverage details. They work hard to maximize your settlement. Most importantly, a PA works for you to make your life easier.

These professionals understand that it takes more than self-sufficiency and confidence to manage the difficulties and disputes that arise when your property is severely damaged. They devote years to developing insurance and property claim expertise so they can handle claims caused by a wide range of perils. When you hire a PA to handle your insurance claim, you benefit from years of knowledge and experience.

Here are 4 ways a public adjuster can help settle insurance claims.

1- Resolve coverage issues

The insurance adjuster who visits your property is usually doing more than calculating damages. Company adjusters are always on the lookout for coverage issues:

• Signs of Arson
• Evidence that you failed to protect your property from further damage
• Failure to maintain coverage at 80% of replacement cost
• Increased hazards that may void coverage

Even if you've studied your insurance policy, a reservation of rights or declination of coverage can take you by surprise. When your public adjuster reviews your claim and policy with the insurance adjuster, they can resolve many issues early on. The insurance company may even conclude that a coverage issue was based on a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of facts or coverage. 

2- Keep you in compliance with policy duties

The “Duties After a Loss,” section of your policy lists the actions required after your property is damaged. The provisions are simple to read, but the meanings may be difficult for you to grasp. Unless you're thoroughly familiar with insurance policy construction and language, it can be easy to miss a critical requirement.

Public adjusters understand your duty to protect property, file timely documentation, cooperate and meet other policy requirements. Your PA will track what you need to do to stay in compliance and help you complete required tasks on a timely basis.

3- Help you document and present your damages

A catastrophic loss can damage or destroy everything you own. To receive reimbursement you may have to submit a “ proof of loss" supported by documentation. You have little control over contractor’s estimates and insurance adjuster’s appraisals, but you are responsible for establishing the value of additional living expenses, contents and other damaged or destroyed personal property. A public adjuster can guide you through this cumbersome process.

4- Serve as an appraisal or umpire for disputed claims

If you and your insurance company can’t agree on a dollar amount for your claim, you must resolve the dispute through your policy’s “appraisal” process. Even if you handled your claim on your own, you must select an appraiser to complete the process on your behalf. Public adjusters have knowledge and expertise that qualify them to act as a property damage appraiser. They can also serve as an umpire, an impartial middleman for two appraisers.

Miller Public Adjusters currently serves the states of
Wisconsin - Florida - Illinois - Indiana - Michigan - Minnesota - Texas

Call us 24 hours a day at (866)443-5167 to schedule an appointment or
please fill out a Free Claim Review to see if we can help.