What do public adjusters really do?

Public adjusters are interested in representing the property owner during the insurance claim. Similar to the relationship one would have with an attorney for a legal matter, the public adjuster represents the interests of the property owner. The insurance adjuster for the insurance company is an employee of that company. The public adjuster works for the property owner.

Public adjusters are licensed by the California Department of Insurance. A public adjuster’s license can be verified by calling 1-800-927-4357 or checking on the Department of Insurance website at www.insurance.ca.gov. The National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters is the training and membership organization and can be contacted through the NAPIA 

Difference between Public insurance adjusters and company staff adjuster

Public Insurance Adjusters are employed and paid by the policyholder not buy company. His responsibility is exclusively to the policyholder. 

Company staff Adjusters, independent insurance Adjusters, and other experts employed or retained by the insurance company work in the best interest of the insurance company. Accordingly, their duties and responsibilities are to their principle, the insurance company. Public Adjusters are licensed, educated, and trained in the policy coverage, state regulations and statutes that guide first party property damage claim handling. 

Public insurance adjusters with hurricane damage claim

Hurricane damages are often sudden and dramatic. Hurricanes generate tornadoes which can cause tremendous damage to one property.



What do you do when you know your property has been damaged but the insurance company adjuster doesn't see it? You should hire Public insurance Adjusters to represent you. You have five years to re-open your claim for supplemental payment. Public insurance adjusters review the insurance company estimate, any photos, invoices and receipts you may have and inspect your property to determine the proper scope of work and any deficit in your initial settlement offer.

Public Insurance Adjusters document your damage, estimate your loss, and negotiate your hurricane damage claim to your insurance carrier. The initial presentation of your claim is vital to your claims' success, therefore make sure you have professional that does it right the first time.

Public insurance adjusters and earthquake damage

When earthquakes hit, the damage is devastating. For the qualified and prepared adjuster, this means long-term, lucrative work.



Public insurance adjusters can help with the recovery process, finding earthquake damage that your insurance company may have overlooked. Insurance adjusters can also navigate the fine print of the insurance contract to make sure that your insurer isn’t short-changing you.


Public adjusters assist you in understanding your rights and guide you through the claims handling process. Expert adjusters will document your earthquake loss, determine the value of your damages, and streamline your claim with your insurance carrier.

Hire your own Public Insurance Adjuster

Insurance company hires professional insurance adjusters to assess the damage from the insurance company’s point of view – with an eye for minimizing the insurance company’s losses. To counter this, consider hiring your own professional insurance adjuster to assess the damage from your point of view – with an eye for getting you a fair insurance claim settlement.



While you expect your insurance company to hold up their end of the bargain, hiring a public adjuster can help to make sure that this happens and that nothing is overlooked. The burden of proof is not the insurance adjuster’s job; it is yours but the job of your public insurance adjusters . If you don’t document and support your losses, your busy insurance company adjuster may come in, quickly assess the damage, and move on to the next claim. He’s not necessarily going to look for damages that you failed to discover.

How to Handle Your Wind Damage Insurance Claim

Standard homeowner’s policies cover damage from wind or wind-driven rain but insurance adjusters are using a disclaimer about flooding to get out of paying claims on homes that were only damaged by wind.



How to do the best for yourself -----

 Immediate question,What must I do to protect my home, keeping in mind that I have insurance coverage for wind damage?
 Strong winds can blow off 2-3 shingles. Flying debris can puncture the roof covering, & then comes the water stains on the interior ceiling. That water can continue downward & stain the bedspreed, carpet, drapes, & walls.
 Can you get on the roof, or must you wait for a roofer to find & cover any wind damage. Often openings are hard to find due to wind blown rain entering in to a small opening at a chimney, or vent. Then what do you do, you can't repair the plaster of drywall, or repaint? Do you call your insurance agent or company & make a report
 If you call your insurance claims adjuster agent or company they may simply tell you to call a roofer. They may or may not send out a claims adjuster until they hear back from you. What have you done, you have just reported damage to your home which maybe put in your underwriting file, & it is less than your deductible.
In the HO policies A, B, & C, wind is covered. Interior water damage is covered only in the B & C policies. If no opeining is found on the roof no payment will be made toward any roof work, but the interior damage is covered & the payment made depending on its cost & the deductible.

Benefits of hiring a Public insurance adjuster

Public insurance adjusters know the insurance process inside and out, so they can minimize the hassle that comes with collecting documents and evidence, and then negotiating with the insurance company. The Public insurance adjuster will file all your pertinent paperwork with the insurance company, arrange for the inspections of your damaged property if needed, and then haggle with the insurance company if it refuses to pay your claim.



A good public adjuster will also help control what you say to your insurance company. The adjuster will be forthright with your insurer, but won't divulge any information that might damage your case. Remember, the adjuster is your employee and will pursue your interests only.

Public insurance adjusters have to follow the guidelines written in their state that say what they can and can't do. Adjusters aren't allowed to handle bodily injury claims, auto claims, or third-party. They also are obligated to give you timely service, make sure you're given a reasonable offer from the insurance company, and disclose every part of the claims process to you.