≡ Menu

Public Insurance Adjusters: When Should You Hire One and Why?

The role of public insurance adjusters may not be particularly well-known to consumers, but they stand to gain a lot from these professionals. That’s especially true when there’s a claim of considerable size at stake.

In the following article, we’ll be talking about the role of the public insurance adjuster, their responsibilities, and how to determine when you should hire one. Let’s begin!

What Is a Public Adjuster?

A public adjuster operates independently from an insurance company. Policyholders, whether companies or individuals, will typically hire them to offer an educated conclusion on whether a claim is worth filing and, if so, how much the insured should receive.

What Does a Public Adjuster Do?

Specifically, a public insurance adjuster will look at specific damages in a property claim. They will offer a more detailed overview than what the typical policyholder could calculate on their own. They’re particularly good at clarifying multiple claims.

They also work directly with the insurance company. They’re well-informed on how to file, research that gets results, and arguing on behalf of their clients whenever there’s a dispute.

Insurance companies are not in the business of loose purse strings. They’re going to pay you as little as they can get away with. Hiring an adjuster gives policyholders a voice in the discussion.

Should I Hire a Public Adjuster?

A public adjuster may not always be beneficial. Some claim payouts are pretty straight-forward. Others may be too small to justify their fee. 

The question of are public adjusters worth it is still worth asking, though. At the very least, you can move forward with peace of mind the insurance company’s assessment is the best deal you’re going to get. At best, you’re able to recover a larger payout than you could have expected otherwise.

Are Public Adjusters Worth It?

When asking yourself should I use a public adjuster, weigh the payout and fee against what you’d be getting otherwise. Adjusters typically charge no more than 20 percent of the claim for their services, with most settling in at the 10 percent mark (lower for large claims). 

Let’s say an insurance company adjuster says the claim is worth $25,000 but a public insurance adjuster says $35,000. Even if negotiations fall at the midpoint of $30,000, the adjuster’s 10 percent fee would net you $2,000 more than the insurance company would have paid had you just taken their word for it. More is always worth it!

Some Things to Address Before You Hire

Hiring a public adjuster requires some legwork. All adjusters must be licensed by their state of operation and submit to continuing education so check with your state’s board to make sure credentials are on-point.

Ask the adjuster for other clients or referrals he or she can provide. Check out those references on your own. Last but not least, make sure they’ve got the right kind of experience (i.e., something suited to your particular claim).

Public Insurance Adjusters Fight for the Policyholder

Above all, public insurance adjusters are there to fight for your rights and interests as a policyholder. Good luck as you decide whether to hire. And for more helpful business tips, check out some of our other blog posts.