About Insurance Adjusters

Insurance adjusters investigate insurance claims by interviewing the claimant and witnesses, consulting police and hospital records, and inspecting property damage to determine the extent of the company’s liability. Insurance adjusters have the knowledge to complete the preparation of a property damage claim which, to an unrepresented owner, may be unfamiliar territory. The documents contain technical terms such as depreciation, replacement costs, and actual cash value, that may be unknown to the policyholder, and a trained insurance adjuster can ensure a correct completion.

There are three types of insurance adjusters:

• staff adjusters (employed by an insurance company or self-insured entity),
• independent (independent contractors; not insurance company employees)
• public adjusters (employed by the policyholder).

It should be very clear that in the two first instances, the adjuster defends the rights of the insurer and works for a fair settlement for both parties.

Adjusters may handle "property claims" involving damage to buildings and structures, or "liability claims" involving personal injuries or third-person property damage from liability situations, such as motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, or alleged negligent behavior. Some adjusters handle both types of claims and are known as "Multi-Line" adjusters. Public adjusters work exclusively for the policyholder. This means there should be no inherent conflict of interest when it comes to advocating on the policyholders behalf to the insurance company.

An independent adjuster could be working for multiple insurance companies or self-insured entities.

An insurance adjuster will frequently verify that coverage applies through an insurance policy, investigate liability for the damages caused, and make restitution to the injured person based on their physical, emotional, or physical property damages.

Many owners reach a fair settlement with the staff or independent adjuster they are working with.

Specific duties include:

• Responding to claims in a timely manner
• Filing paperwork
• Communicating with policy holders
• Investigate liability
• Assess damages
• Research, detail and substantiate each aspect of the claim, including building damage, contents, and extra living expense claims.
• Negotiate with product/service providers on time and cost of repairs for the purpose of making an offer of settlement to the insured.
• Ensuring accurate procedures
• Protect the interest of the insurance company the adjuster represents, when dealing with claimants.