One of the main questions people ask us at Noble Public Adjusting Group is what exactly IS a public adjuster? And what does a public adjuster do, exactly? In today’s blog post, we would like to answer those two questions as clearly and succinctly as possible.
What Exactly is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster is a professional who can help you receive proper compensation from your insurer, in the event of a disaster. You may think that this is a job left to your insurance company, but the sad truth is, insurance companies are in the business of making a profit, so they are going to try every way they can to either deny your claim or pay out as little as possible in a settlement. Insurance companies have their own adjusters who show up when you file an insurance claim to estimate your damages, but you must understand that this person works for the insurance company, not for you, the policyholder. Their job is to save their boss as much money as they can. Always remember, they represent the company`s best interest, not yours.
In the case of small claims that are close to your deductible, you should be able to negotiate and receive fair settlement on your own, but when your loss is valued at more than $10,000, you should hire a public adjuster, who will work on your behalf, protecting your interest. Public adjusters know the language of insurance inside and out and are experienced in working directly with insurance companies. A public adjuster is not intimidated by insurance companies. They file your claim, prepare written estimates, damage proofs and negotiate with your insurer much better than you could on your own. The truth is, a public adjuster is going to get you a much bigger settlement than if you handled your own insurance claim.
Wikipedia has this description of a what exactly a public adjuster is: “A public adjuster is a professional claim handler claims adjuster who advocates for the policyholder in appraising and negotiating a claimant’s insurance claim.[1]Aside from attorneys and the broker of record, public adjusters licensed by state departments of insurance are the only type of claims adjuster that can legally represent the rights of an insured during an insurance claim process. A public adjuster will be most beneficial when it is clear that the insurer will pay the claim and the only issue is the proper identification and valuation of the loss. Most public adjusters charge a percentage of the settlement. Primarily they appraise the damage, prepare an estimate and other claim documentation, read the policy of insurance to determine coverages, and negotiate with the insurance company’s claims handler.[2]
A public adjuster is a representative of the policyholder who advises, manages, and submits a claim to the policyholder’s insurance company. There are three classes of insurance claims adjusters: staff adjusters (employed by an insurance company or self-insured entity), independent adjusters (independent contractors hired by the insurance company) and public adjusters (employed by the policyholder). “Company” or “independent” adjusters can only legally represent the rights of an insurance company.[3]”
Noble Public Adjusting Group thinks that description of what exactly a public adjuster is fits very well with our own definition. A public adjuster is one of the best people to have on your side when you need to file an insurance claim for damages to your property, no doubt about it.
Noble’s main office is in Panama City Beach, Florida, but we also have several other Florida offices, along with offices in Texas and Georgia. Under the right circumstances, Noble can take on an insurance claim anywhere in the US. In fact, we are the # rated insurance appraiser in the nation. We love nothing better than taking on big corporate insurance! We file it, we fight it, we win. Call us today if you have questions, need a free property insurance policy review, or for any other concerns you may have. If you have an insurance claim you want us to file, let’s get started on that today.
Noble Public Adjusting Group
107 Amar Place Suite 103
Panama City Beach (West End), FL 32413
(850) 249-MY-PA