When it comes to filing an insurance claim, policyholders can find themselves in a difficult situation. Insurance companies have their own appraisers who look after their own interests, leaving the policyholder to fend for themselves. This is where a public insurance adjuster comes in. A public adjuster is a licensed professional who advocates for the policyholder and not the insurance company.
They are the defender of the policyholder's insurance claims. In most U. S. states, policyholders can hire an authorized public adjuster for the payment of “contingent fees” (percentages). This professional will handle the claim and negotiate a settlement on behalf of the policyholder.
It is important to find an experienced public adjuster with good references who will accept you as a customer for a fair price. Public adjusters' fees are usually 20%, but when a state of emergency is declared, the state of Florida will limit public adjusters' fees to 10%.A public adjuster helps manage the claim, ensures that the claim filing requirements are met, and helps recover the amount the policyholder deserves under their insurance contract. They were created by their respective states to help level the playing field with the insurance company and provide the policyholder with an expert advocate. Your insurance company may assign one or more different adjusters to your claim over time. United Policyholders has helped pass laws that require insurers to submit claims status reports to protect consumers from frustration, delays, and confusion due to appraiser turnover.
If you have a legitimate basis for filing an additional claim for damages and if you document it through the product of the work of a professional public adjuster, insurance companies often sit down with us and try in good faith to try to resolve any outstanding differences. Hiring a public adjuster before hiring an attorney can also help avoid litigation and retain more of what was agreed. This is why it is important for policyholders to understand the benefits of hiring a public insurance adjuster and how they can help them in their claims process.
