After a property disaster filing an insurance claim can be an overwhelming process. The best way to keep things running smoothing in your life and to ensure a fair claim settlement is to fire claim help from a public adjuster.
A public insurance adjuster is a claim professional who interprets the insurance policy, assesses the damage and the cost to repair, and negotiates with the insurance company the largest possible settlement in the most efficient way. Public insurance adjusters never work for insurance companies, they only work to advocate for policyholders. You must remember that a public insurance adjuster can only negotiate actual damages.
Public adjuster services include:
- Hiring a public insurance adjuster not only helps you get a faster and more accurate claim settlement, but their help also alleviates you the burden of the dealing with the hassles of the property insurance claim process. Public adjuster services can include:
- Estimation of your damage and loss presented in proper format
- Full Interpretation, analysis, and explanation of the home or business insurance policy
- Full substantiation of your claim with documentation and expert opinion reports
- Daily management of your insurance claim such as attending meetings and daily communication and claim tasks
- Claim package presentation and negotiation of your final settlement
Considering these benefits, it’s important you look for a qualified and trusted public insurance adjuster. In most claim, public insurance adjusters have helped claimants win settlements for claims that were previously denied, underpaid or delayed.
Property owners who have filed a fire insurance claim will know that the process is confusing, time-consuming and can quickly turn into a nightmare. The fire claim process itself is full of inherent complexities and jargon most people are unfamiliar with. Most people quickly find that getting a full fire insurance claim settlement is difficult and can become another full time job.
In order for the claim to progress at an acceptable rate, claimants must commit to carefully learning and understanding what their insurance policies afford and expectations and responsibilities required of them. Only then will the claimant be able to secure a favourable fire insurance claim settlement. The smallest mistake with documentation, or misstep during the fire insurance claim process, will likely result in the denial, delay or underpayment of the settlement amount by the insurance company.
Because of the complexities of fire claims, claimants should strongly consider hiring professional help from a fire claim adjuster, mostly commonly known as a public adjuster. These professionals ensure a claim is handled expeditiously, fairly and that you receive the largest possible settlement.
The biggest advantage of hiring a public adjuster is you can rest assured that your claim is being handled in the proper way by a professional who knows the process. This enables you to focus on family and professional obligations during the fire insurance claim process. An experienced public adjuster knows exactly how to navigate through complex and difficult fire claims in order to get the quickest and most accurate settlement. Public adjusters are also skilled at overturning claims that were underpaid and even denied.
If you’re looking for a fire claim adjuster only consider one with a verified track record. Checking recent settlements and calling former clients can be a good way to verify their level of expertise.
In a perfect world
insurance companies would quickly and accurately pay all property
insurance claims. All of their independent adjusters would have the
time, patience and expertise to properly investigate and document the
damages of your claim and payment for damages would be made quickly.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and underpaid and
unfairly denied homeowner claims, business claims and business
interruptions claims are all too common.
The insurance claim
process can be complex and very few claims are settled without any
complications or delays that could be avoided. These delays can be
caused by both parties. Claimants, unfamiliar with claim handling
practices, who wish to handle their claim without professional insurance
claim help will often make mistakes which cause claim delays, denials
or low settlement offers. Insurance companies can also be responsible
for complications throughout the claim process by demanding complex
duties or tasks to be completed by the claimant.
Getting
professional claim help from a public adjuster can benefit the overall
claim. Public adjuster services include claim handling, documentation
and negotiation. More on that later. These claim adjusters lessen the
time it takes to settle your claim and also help avoid complications and
delays due to their experience with the claim process.
A public adjuster will help you in negotiating and settling following insurance claims amongst others:
· Fire insurance claim
· Water damage insurance claim
· Hurricane insurance claim
· Flood damage claim
· Storm damage insurance claim
Whether you have a business interruption claim or a home insurance claim, an experienced public adjuster will make sure that every act during the claim process serves a single purpose of helping you recoup a fast and full claim settlement.
Some of the services offered by a public adjuster:
· Insurance policy review and interpretation
· Daily claim management
· Damage estimation in insurance industry-specific format
· Damage substantiation
· Claim package preparation
· Claim package presentation
· Negotiations with the insurance company’s claim adjuster
The insurance claim process can be intimidating, confusing, overwhelming and seem to be downright unfair for claimants. Some people elect to hire professional insurance claim help from a public insurance adjuster early in the process. Like all professionals, hiring a public claims adjuster costs money that some people would rather save by handling their claim on their own.
Perhaps the adjuster from the insurance company placed a value on your damages that is way lower than what you or your repair company has estimated. Or maybe you just have a gut feeling that your insurance company is short-changing you but you don’t know exactly for what and how for much.
If your claim has been denied or you’ve received what you believe is a low settlement offer then you could have some recourse to obtain a better settlement outcome. In most cases, even after a denial or settlement, recovering a fair and just settlement amount is still a good possibility.
Take a look at a few tips that you should implement if you feel like you’re not being paid a fair and just amount for your property insurance claim.
The Data is Vital
The correct and substantiated data is necessary if you have any hope of overturning a low settlement. Arming yourself with the correct type of concrete damage estimates will force your insurance company to pay. You need to locate at least two reputable general contractors who have experience estimating damaged properties. Request that they bid out and provide you a detailed estimate of the cost to repair your home or business to its pre-loss condition.
These estimates should be done in a software program that is widely accepted in the insurance industry. An experienced public insurance adjuster can also provide these types of damage estimates but will likely charge a cost to produce them. If you can find a public adjuster to provide you a damage estimate for a flat fee that may be a better options since they know the intricacies of the claim process.
As a best practice you should get at least two estimates from two different professionals.
Negotiate
If you want to be successful fighting your insurance company then you need to know your rights and options. The first step is to read your insurance policy. Contact the agent from whom you purchased your policy or request a certified copy from your claim adjuster. The policy will outline what the carrier will cover and what can be negotiated during the insurance claim process.
Did you know that there are many components of an insurance claim that can be negotiated? Building materials, depreciation amounts, and profits are just a few items that are up for negotiations. If your insurance company claim adjuster will not budge, request for his or her boss to review the claim or ask that a new adjuster be assigned. Again, insurance claims are negotiable.
Most people take what the insurance company offers without asking any questions or without negotiating at all. There’s usually a significant difference between what the insurance company claim adjuster offers and what the insurance company should pay you for your damages and based upon the policy you purchased from the company. So do not get discouraged with a low settlement offer, negotiate and arm yourself with the correct information.
Don’t Waive Your Settlement Options
Again, even if you’ve received a low settlement or your claim has been out denied you could still have some recourse. Be vigilant that you don’t sign a settlement release that could prohibit your option to re-open your claim or otherwise waive your settlement rights at a later date. These releases are usually presented by the claim adjuster after the carrier has agreed to pay and before issuing settlement checks. Be careful!
In addition to the tips listed above you should consider consulting with a public claims adjuster if you feel uneasy about your settlement offer or the insurance claim process. Many of these personal or private adjusters offer free consultation services. These professionals are experts with handling insurance claims and know the tricks and strategies of many insurance companies. Public adjusters can be found online but we suggest verifying experience and credentials of any professional sought out on the Internet.
