When you suffer a loss of your own property, the first person you meet at the insurance company is the appraiser. The adjuster exists to help you prove the loss to the insurer and obtain the compensation promised by the insurer in the policy. To fulfill your obligation as an adjuster, certain tasks must always be performed fairly and in good faith. Talking to insurers can be complicated.
While you have an obligation to talk to your own insurance company after a car accident and to cooperate reasonably with the investigation of the claim, you should be careful when talking to other drivers' insurers. Because when you do, you're talking to someone who is actively working against you. For each public insurance adjuster exam, a fee will be paid in an amount determined by the commissioner by regulation. Paying, allowing, or offering to pay, allow, or give, directly or indirectly, to a person who is not a licensed public insurance appraiser a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration for the referral of an insured to the public insurance adjuster in order for the insured to enter into a contract with that public insurance adjuster or for any other purpose is prohibited. The appraiser must take a full, recorded statement from the insured and all witnesses to the incident that caused the loss. If the appraiser representing the insurer and the insured disagree on the compensability or extent of the loss, the insured must be provided with a blank form as proof of the loss and informed that failure to submit a properly executed proof of loss within 60 days (unless extended in writing by the insurer) will be considered a breach of a material condition of the policy and the claim will be rejected. The insurance adjuster evaluates your property, collects evidence about the extent of the damage, and resolves your claim.
The adjuster must explain to you that your policy requires you to prove your loss to them. The adjuster must provide you with a copy of the agreed scope and inform you that you can obtain similar opinions based on that same agreed scope if you wish. It is essential to check references and agree on fees and conditions before entering into a contract with a public appraiser. If you can't or don't want to hire a public appraiser, consider talking to a customer service representative from your insurer. This person could help you understand your policy's requirements for filing claims. You are self-employed as a public insurance adjuster or are associated with or employed by a public insurance appraisal company or other public insurance appraiser; A code of ethics for public insurance adjusters encourages education about ethical, legal, and business principles that should govern their conduct; Many adjusters have misinterpreted this section of California Insurance Code by requiring a response to a proof of loss within 30 days of its receipt by the company; The license holder may not solicit or attempt to solicit business, directly or indirectly, or act in any way in connection with a bodily injury loss covered by a life, health, or accident insurance policy or in any claim where the customer is not insured under the insurance policy. It is important for you as an insured to understand that when it comes time for your public insurance adjuster to meet with an insurer's representative regarding your claim, it is not necessary for you to be present.
Your public insurance adjuster will handle all aspects of your claim on your behalf and will ensure that all necessary documents are submitted in order for you to receive fair compensation. If an agreement is reached between your public insurance adjuster and an insurer's representative regarding your claim, then it is important for you as an insured to understand that it is still necessary for you to submit all necessary documents in order for your claim to be processed and approved. Your public insurance adjuster will provide guidance throughout this process and ensure that all necessary documents are submitted on time. It is also important for you as an insured to understand that if an agreement cannot be reached between your public insurance adjuster and an insurer's representative regarding your claim, then it may be necessary for you as an insured to take legal action in order for your claim to be processed and approved.
