Coastal Claims Services

If you are unhappy with the performance of your public adjuster, ask them to withdraw their representation of your claim. Certain states also allow for the contract to be cancelled for the speed at which the file is handled. In these cases, you may be required to pay the public adjuster for the partial settlement amounts negotiated by them. This is one reason why it is so important to properly vet your public adjuster prior to hiring them.

It can be difficult to determine the monetary value of a property claim until all the details are gathered and a full investigation has been completed. There are many factors to consider when evaluating the cost of repairs. Hiring a public adjuster to document and estimate the damages can help ensure you are including the full scope and value of the damage when presenting the claim.

Insurance companies represent both sides of a financial transaction. They tell you both how much your risk profile should be charged for coverage (your premium) and how much the damage your property has suffered from an event is worth (your settlement). Not every insurance claim is covered. However, if insurance companies would simply pay covered claims fairly and accurately, there would be no need for public adjusters, and the industry would not exist. Ultimately, the best reason to hire a public adjuster is to thoroughly document your claim to the insurance company to maximize the value of the claim settlement. In fact, a recent report by the Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability stated that policyholders who used public adjusters received a settlement increase of 574% compared to policyholders that did not use a public adjuster. (https://oppaga.fl.gov/Documents/Reports/10-06.pdf)

While it is true that your insurance company will assign an adjuster to your claim at no cost to evaluate your damage, it is important to consider who the adjuster assigned works for. The insurance company will send an adjuster that is their employee, or they will hire an adjuster. These adjusters will work on behalf of your insurance company to gather information about the claim and estimate a repair cost. The insurance adjuster has a fiduciary responsibility to the insurance company, not you as the policyholder. In many states, adjusters employed by the insurance company are not required to have any license or credentials to perform their role as an adjuster. When hiring a licensed public adjuster, that adjuster’s fiduciary responsibility is to you, the policyholder.

Possibly. Often when policy holders try to handle an insurance claim on their own, the process can drag out for many months because the insured is unsure of how to efficiently navigate the claims process. Hiring a public adjuster can help to speed the process along, as they are already familiar with the steps needed to move the claim along.

There can be benefits of calling a public adjuster prior to filing a claim. One benefit is that a public adjuster may be able to determine if the claim you are considering filing is covered by your policy or exceeds your deductible. Since most states mandate that a public adjuster must be paid as a percentage of insurance settlement proceeds, evaluating the claim for submission should be a free service if no claim is ever filed. If you decide to hire a public adjuster, the claim should be filed promptly. Hiring a public adjuster at the beginning of the claims process often helps to ensure that the required documentation is preserved for the claim to pay out the maximum settlement.

No. Your insurance company can only cancel your policy for non-payment or by breaking the terms of your contract. Your policy may provide certain discounts to your premium for not filing claims, but whether or not you choose to hire a public adjuster will have no impact on these discounts.

Your public adjuster should help with all aspects of your property claim. This can vary from case to case, but often includes notifying the insurance company of the damages, meeting insurance adjusters on-site for inspections, thoroughly documenting the damages, preparing estimates of the damages, filing pertinent documents, and meeting claim deadlines.

Most state insurance departments state that a public adjuster contract must be on a contingency fee basis. This means that your public adjuster will charge a percentage of the total insurance settlement. This also means that if there is no settlement, you will not have to pay your public adjuster. The amount of the percentage varies based on the type and size of the claim, but in most cases, fees fall between 10% and 20% of the settlement amount. If your public adjuster is looking to charge you 30% or more to represent your claim, look for a different public adjuster.

You can hire a public adjuster at any time during the claims process. This can be prior to filing a claim or after filing a claim, even if the claim has been denied or a settlement offer has been extended or a payment has been made. If you disagree with your insurance company adjuster about the extent or value of the damage, it is a good time to hire a public adjuster.

Hiring a public adjuster is like hiring any other professional. Look for a company with a good reputation, with experienced adjusters that have been practicing for at least 5 years. Your public adjuster should be responsive to your needs and concerns with the claims process. Hire a public adjuster that holds certifications in estimating various types of claims.

Many property owners want a professional advocate when they experience a property loss, especially if the damage is significant. If you disagree with the insurance company about the extent or value of the property damage, you should hire a public adjuster. If you want the maximum value for your property damage claim, you will need to present the damage to the insurance company as thoroughly and accurately as possible. Hiring an expert can help with that process.

Public adjusters are licensed by the state insurance department to exclusively represent the policyholder for first party property claims. First party property claims are insurance claims made by the policyholder for damages incurred by the owner of the property. Public adjusters represent homeowners, business owners, landlords, renters, and other property owners. Public adjusters handle losses caused by fire, water, wind, mold, and many other perils that cause damage to property.