When damage occurs to your property, typically a policyholder starts the insurance claim by contacting their insurance agent. Since filing an insurance claim seems so simple, many policyholders may ask, “why should I hire a public adjuster?” Keep reading this article to find out more about why hiring a public adjuster may drastically help with your insurance claim.

What happens when I file an insurance claim?

If your home or business experiences damage or theft, an insurance claim is filed with your insurance company. When an insurance claim needs to be filed, you will typically work with an adjuster who works for the insurance company. The insurance adjuster’s job is to assess damages and determine what the insurance claim payout is.

Filing an insurance claim can be laborious and has the potential to raise your future insurance premium, most policyholders typically pay the deductible to have the damages fixed.

Types of Insurance Claim Adjusters

Once an insurance claim is filed, the policyholder interacts with a claims adjuster. There are three types of insurance claims adjusters.

The most common type of adjuster is a company adjuster or staff adjuster. This type of adjuster works on behalf of your insurance company. For most insurance claims, this adjuster is who the policyholder typically interacts with.

Another type of adjuster is an independent adjuster. This type of adjuster is an independent contractor hired by the insurance company to handle the claim. An insurance company will often hire independent contractors when there are many claims – mostly after a natural disaster. The insurance company will employ licensed, independent adjusters outside of the affected area to assist policyholders with their claims.

Lastly, a public insurance adjuster is a type of insurance adjuster that works on behalf of the policyholder. A public adjuster is an independent, licensed adjuster that works on behalf and is hired by the policyholder. Most public adjusters are licensed; however, some states don’t require public adjusters to be licensed.

Choosing to use a Public Adjuster

Most policyholders don’t utilize a public adjuster since insurance companies provide an adjuster during the claims process. Also, many policyholders are unaware that a public adjusting service is available for them to use. The insurance company will send their adjusters; however, we recommend working with a public adjuster that works for you.

To see how public adjusters are compensated, view this article.