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About Public Insurance Adjusting

A public adjuster (PA) represents you—the policyholder—by preparing, presenting, and negotiating your home or business property insurance claim. A qualified PA brings specialized expertise to help simplify and guide you through the complex, time-consuming claim process after property damage from fire, windstorms, hail, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters.

A PA works only for you—not an insurance company, roofing company, repair company, or general contractor. Hiring a public adjuster can be an important way to protect your rights and interests as a policyholder.

Public adjusters are licensed by the states in which they practice and are required to meet applicable state licensing requirements. They are also fiduciaries, meaning they have a duty of loyalty to the claimant and must act in good faith on your behalf. 

A PA is your representative in dealings with your insurance company adjuster and his or her consultants (engineers, construction experts, or forensic accountants). Hiring a PA can level the playing field and make a significant difference in the final determination of your loss.

A PA will relieve you of many time consuming, tedious and difficult matters related to preparing and filing your insurance claim–and help you get a prompt and fair settlement. The PA will prepare your claim, including all estimates, inventories and other factual information that may be required to prove your loss. Your PA will make sure your claim meets all of your insurance company’s filing requirements.
Responsible PAs often base their fees on a percentage of the final settlement–based on the time, energy and expertise required to properly and effectively represent their client. Much like accountants, realtors and other professional consultants, public adjusters offset their fees in the time they save their clients and in the amount of the claim recovery.

Navigating an insurance claim can be a complex and often frustrating process. It’s natural for property owners to turn to their contractor for guidance. While contractors play a vital role in repairing your property, handling an insurance claim is a separate and specialized function. 

Representing or negotiating a property insurance claim without proper licensure as a public adjuster or attorney is known as the unauthorized practice of public adjusting (UPPA).

When contractors and public adjusters work together while remaining true to their respective roles, the property owner benefits.

Click here to learn more about UPPA.