Auto Insurance Bodily Injury Claims: The Role Of Public Adjusters

After a car accident, an injured passenger might file a bodily injury claim with the at-fault driver's car insurance company. In that situation, an insurance adjuster for the driver's car insurance company will handle the injured passenger's claim. There are three types of insurance adjusters: staff adjusters, independent adjusters, and public adjusters. A staff adjuster is a direct employee of the insurance company, an independent adjuster is a contractor for the insurance company, and a public adjuster works on behalf of the person who brings the insurance claim. Public adjusters are hired by individuals or businesses to help them file a claim or if they believe the claim amount offered by their insurance company was incorrect. They are experts in the details and language of insurance policies and can save the claimant a lot of money by ensuring the insurance company pays the full amount it is responsible for.

Public adjusters can be hired to help document a loss and make a claim

Public adjusters are claim adjusters that individuals can hire to help them document a loss and make a claim. They are licensed professionals who work on behalf of policyholders, and can be hired when individuals need help filing a claim or if they believe the claim amount offered by their insurance company is incorrect.

Public adjusters are experts in the details and language of insurance policies, as well as filing and adjusting claims. They use sophisticated software to perform an independent evaluation of a client's property loss and gather highly detailed claim information. They can also help clients negotiate with contractors and insurers, saving the policyholder significant time and labour.

Public adjusters can be hired at any time during the claims and repair process. It is best to hire them sooner rather than later so that they can take over and speak on your behalf from the onset of the claim. They can also be hired if the claim is settled and additional damage is discovered during repairs.

There are several ways to find a reliable public insurance adjuster. One of the best ways is through a word-of-mouth recommendation. A state or regional association, such as the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), can also guide you to one of its members, who must meet strict membership requirements and adhere to a code of ethics.

Public adjusters typically charge a percentage of the total claim settlement, with fees ranging from 3% to 30% of the insurance settlement. They may also charge a flat rate or hourly rate. It is important to clarify the fee structure upfront and ensure you are comfortable with the charged percentage.

They are experts in the details and language of insurance policies

Public adjusters are experts in the details and language of insurance policies. They are licensed professionals who can be hired by individuals or businesses to help with filing insurance claims and negotiating with insurance companies. They have prior experience in construction or related fields, which enables them to effectively assess property damage and determine the appropriate repairs and replacement value.

Public adjusters use sophisticated software to perform an independent evaluation of a client's property loss. They are skilled in gathering highly detailed claim information, which can be challenging for a policyholder to compile on their own. They log and submit initial and supplemental claims on behalf of the policyholder, ensuring that all relevant costs are included.

Public adjusters are well-versed in the intricacies of insurance policies. They can interpret policy language to identify the maximum settlement amount that can be claimed. They also have a thorough understanding of the claims process and can guide policyholders through it, saving them significant time and labour.

Additionally, public adjusters can help policyholders negotiate with contractors and insurers. They serve as advocates for policyholders, ensuring fair evaluations and settlements of their claims. Their expertise can be particularly valuable when dealing with extensive property insurance claims, as they can streamline the complex process of filing and settling claims.

When hiring a public adjuster, it is important to consider their credentials, experience, communication style, and fee structure. Public adjusters typically charge a percentage of the final claim payout, ranging from 5% to 20%. However, their fees may be capped by local or state laws to protect policyholders from excessive charges.

They can help negotiate with contractors and insurers

Public adjusters are licensed professionals who can be hired by individuals and businesses when they need help filing a claim or if they believe a claim amount offered by their insurance company is incorrect. They are experts in the details and language of insurance policies, as well as filing and adjusting claims. They can help negotiate with contractors and insurers, saving the policyholder time and labour, and protecting them from any pitfalls due to inexperience.

Public adjusters can use sophisticated software to perform an independent evaluation of a client's property loss. They can also gather highly detailed claim information that can be challenging for a policyholder to compile alone. This information is then logged and submitted as initial and supplemental claims on a policyholder's behalf.

Public adjusters can charge a flat rate, an hourly rate, or a portion of the total claim settlement. For example, if a company offers to pay $100,000 for a claim and the policyholder disputes $20,000, the public adjuster could charge $10,000. It is important to ask the public adjuster to put their fee in a dollar amount in the contract, rather than a percentage.

Public adjusters may also inspect damaged property, talk to the insurance company and ask for a larger amount, and settle the claim within a certain timeframe.

In Texas, only licensed public adjusters (or attorneys) are allowed to adjust or negotiate insurance claims on behalf of policyholders.

They save the policyholder time and labour

Public adjusters save the policyholder time and labour by handling the entire claims process on their behalf. They are experts in the details and language of insurance policies, as well as filing and adjusting claims. They have prior experience in construction or a related field, and use sophisticated software to perform an independent evaluation of a client's property loss.

The process of evaluating, completing and submitting a claim is remarkably detailed and challenging for a policyholder to complete accurately. Public adjusters gather highly detailed claim information, log and submit initial and supplemental claims, and help clients negotiate with contractors and insurers. They save the policyholder from potential pitfalls due to inexperience.

Public adjusters also save the policyholder time and labour by taking on the role of liaison between the policyholder, the insurer, and any other third parties such as attorneys or witnesses. They help the policyholder understand their insurance policy, track the claim, file documents, and meet deadlines.

Adjusters are judged on how quickly they settle claims, so they are incentivised to save the policyholder time. They have to settle a large number of claims each month just to stay even, so they are unlikely to stall a claim once they know the policyholder understands the range of how much their injury claim is worth.

They can be hired if a claim is complicated or the claimant feels they have been treated unfairly

Public adjusters are not employed by insurance carriers and work exclusively on behalf of the policyholder. They can be hired if a claim is complicated or the claimant feels they have been treated unfairly.

Public adjusters are experts in the details and language of insurance policies, as well as filing and adjusting claims. They can help claimants negotiate with contractors and insurers, saving them time and labour, and protecting them from any pitfalls due to inexperience. They can also help claimants to understand how insurance adjusters work, and how to negotiate with them effectively.

Public adjusters can be particularly useful if a claimant does not have the time or skills to handle their claim, or if they have suffered a large or complicated loss. They can also provide an outside opinion of damages if the claimant disagrees with the decision of the company's staff adjuster.

However, hiring a public adjuster can be expensive, and the claimant may lose a degree of control over their claim. It is also important to be careful and ensure that any public adjuster hired is licensed to do business in the claimant's state.

Frequently asked questions