Claim More, Stress Less: The Power of Public Adjusters

Filing an insurance claim after property damage, theft, or disaster is never an easy job. Between understanding policy on paper, analyzing losses, and negotiating with insurance companies, the process can leave you overwhelmed, right?

Well, this is where seeking guidance from a public adjuster is important. Acting as a professional advocate, this adjuster solely works on your behalf to help you, not the insurance company, to recover a full settlement.

In this blog post, we will shed light on their role in your claims settlement. You will also learn about the job of this individual and what entirely consists of.

Understanding their Job

A public adjuster is a licensed professional who represents policyholders during the insurance claim process. As compared to company adjusters, who work for the insurer, they are hired by the claimant to handle and maximize their claims. 

This distinction is important as it ensures that the adjuster is fully aligned with the interests of the policyholder.

What is the Role of a Public Adjuster?

Now, we all have this question in our minds quite often, don’t we? Well, when disaster strikes, whether it’s a fire, hurricane, flood, or any other insured event, they help you manage every stage of the claim. 

The duties of this individual include a thorough evaluation of property damage, collecting and compiling detailed reports, understanding complex insurance policies, and negotiating with the insurance company. Most importantly, they allow homeowners and business owners to relax and avoid navigating these complicated situations alone.

Apart from just filing paperwork, a good adjuster will also help you recover from paperwork. They have an understanding of the nuances of policies to ensure that every eligible damage, no matter how small, is accounted for.

Such a comprehensive approach is helpful in achieving higher settlements than individuals who would have gotten a settlement on their own.

Reasons for Hiring a Public Adjuster

Hiring this individual isn’t just about dealing with inconvenience. In fact, it’s mostly about the outcome. In many instances, policyholders don’t understand how much they are entitled to. Insurance terms and conditions are known to be complex, allowing insurance companies to use them to their benefit.

When you have an experienced adjuster from Onyx Adjusting by your side, you will be able to ensure equality.

Some other reasons to consider hiring them include:

• Better Settlements, Less Stress:

Public adjusters are meticulous. They bring in experts when required, such as engineers, contractors, and inventory specialists, to produce the evidence of loss that cannot be refused. 

Such professional documentation will help you make your claim even stronger, giving you the best possible chance to fully recover your losses quickly.

For homeowners who are dealing with fire or water damage, or business owners facing business interruption claims, the stakes can be even higher. In such moments, stress will already be at an all-time high. 

With such professionals by your side, you will be able to handle all these claims while conducting your daily affairs smoothly.

Different Types of Claims They Handle

• Property Damage:

These are the most common types of damage claims. They usually include residential or commercial properties that are affected by storms, floods, fires, mould, or vandalism. A certified adjuster will inspect the damage, estimate repair or replacement costs, and ensure nothing is overlooked.

• Business Interruption Claims:

In case a disaster brings an uncertain halt to your business, the losses can go beyond physical property. An adjuster will help you calculate lost revenue, extra expenses, and even the cost of relocation, building a solid case for compensation.

• Theft and Vandalism Claims:

Understanding and determining the true extent of losses can be quite complicated. A licensed adjuster will help you organize the inventories, appraisals, and police reports to ensure a thorough and well-supported claim.

• Liability and Casualty Claims:

In some cases, property owners may be held responsible for accidents or injuries. An adjuster can help in navigating these claims, ensuring that the policy coverage is maximized while the legal exposure is lowered.

Why Having a Certified Adjuster is Important for Your Insurance Claims?

Legally speaking, an adjuster should be licensed in the province where they work. A licensed adjuster needs to meet the educational and ethical standards to get certified by provincial authorities.

Before you hire such an individual, you should also make sure to check their credentials and qualifications. Enquire about their experience, previous claims handled, and whether they have handled losses like yours.

A reputable adjuster will be transparent and will provide references without any hesitation.

When Should You Hire Them?

In the insurance sector, time is of the essence. Ideally, you need to consult such professionals as soon as possible. This helps them in guiding the entire process from the beginning to the end, including the securing of temporary repairs, prevention of further damage, and ensuring all deadlines are met.

However, even if you have already started the insurance claims process, you can still hire a this individual. They can thoroughly review your profile, recognize missed opportunities, and reopen negotiations if required. Actually, it’s never too late to seek help, especially if your claim is being underpaid, delayed, or denied.

To Summarize

The process of filing your insurance claims is never a pleasant journey. However, they don’t have to be painful either. The expertise and representation offered by a public adjuster can help you turn a chaotic experience into a manageable one. 

With someone knowledgeable to handle your claim by your side, you will be able to focus on getting back to normal while being confident that your rights and property are fully protected and compensated for.

Hence, if you are facing the consequences of a disaster, don’t think of navigating the process alone. Contact a licensed adjuster from Onyx Adjusting to help you claim more than what your insurance company gives you, and stress less to start a new phase of your life.