Updated On: July 22, 2014
Have you ever had an insurance claim that seemed to go on forever; the insurance company giving you the run around and being extremely difficult? If you have ever found yourself in that kind of situation then you know all of the frustration that goes with it. That is the time when you really need a Public Adjuster. A lot of people are unaware that there is actually someone out there that can help. You really don’t have to be at the mercy of the insurance companies.
What exactly is a Public Adjuster? Whereas an Insurance claim adjuster represents the insurance company, a Public Adjuster represents the interests of the public. You do not have to fight the insurance companies all by yourself, it has been said that with a Public Adjuster representing you, you are more likely to get paid more on the claim and have the issue resolved in a timelier manner. Basically a PA is an advocate for you although they are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice they can give you advice regarding your insurance policy, explaining all the different clauses, and they can also advise you as to what your rights are.
When would you use a Public Adjuster? Insurance companies only pay out the minimum amounts on claims; paying 25% to 40% of what they could have paid. If as a consumer you don’t know any different, you accept the money and if it is not enough to cover the damage you come out of pocket. One of the reasons this happens is because most consumers do not realize that the burden of proof of the damage is on the consumer not the Insurance Company. For example if you have a tiled floor that is damaged, maybe only a couple of tiles need to be replaced, but because of the type of tile, or maybe it is imported, whatever the reason, you need to replace the entire floor the Insurance Company may try to only pay you for the cost of the damaged tiles, not understanding that the entire floor has to be replaced. And the burden to prove it is on you the consumer who has no knowledge or experience on the correct way to prove and present the reasoning behind your case. Therefore; you lose the Insurance Company wins.
This is just one example where a Public Adjuster would be beneficial to the consumer. There are numerous examples that I could give you, but I’m sure you can see the reasons why it is better to have someone on your side that understands the complexities of an insurance claim and has the knowledge and expertise to get you what you really should be paid on your claim and not just what the Insurance Company pays you because you don’t know any better.