The public adjuster is a valuable asset to the policyholder and should always be courteous and prompt. They are the policyholder’s personal representative.

What is a Public Adjuster?

They are a specialist account that the insurance company assigns to work losses on their behalf. When the insured sustains a loss, the policyholder hires the Public Adjuster who is paid by the policyholder for his or her time. There is usually a contractual agreement that the Public Adjuster will receive a daily rate for services rendered. When the Public Adjuster is asked to investigate claims by several policyholders, he or she computes a per claim rate, which is fair and reasonable for all policyholders. This rate is decided at the discretion of the Insurance Agent assigned to the claims investigation. The per-claim rate is included in the compensation package that the Public Adjuster receives from the policyholder.

How do I hire a Public Adjuster?

Hiring a Public Adjuster is simple. You notify the Insurance Agent of your loss and he or she will contact several firms in your area to determine which Public Adjuster is appropriate for the job. A few days later, your Insurance Agent will contact several firms in your area to determine which Public Adjuster will work your loss. Public Adjusters are generally referred to by their state office.

What do I pay the Public Adjuster?

The Public Adjuster will give you the pre-salary amount and the post-salary amount. The pre-salary amount represents the initial compensation for the Public Adjuster. The post-salary amount represents the total of the re-salary and all expenses, if any, that the Public Adjuster incurred in connection with the investigation of the claim.

What does the Public Adjuster do?

The Public Adjuster will prepare a report that is very detailed. It will list the relevant facts and circumstances that are needed to determine if your loss should be denied or your policy adjusted. The report will include a determination of the amount of the initial post-salary payment, if any, and the total amount of the adjustment or denial.

You can review the public adjuster’s report in person or by phone. If you pay by phone, you can review the report in person at the Public Adjuster’s office. The Public Adjuster must give you a written finding or decision by a certain deadline. If you do not receive a copy of the report within ten days of mailing, you can ask the court for a copy. The deadline is specified in the contract. If the public adjuster requests a copy, he or she must serve you personally or mail a copy to your address shown in the contract.

There are a few other documents you should review to help you decide whether to use a Public Adjuster. You should also review the contract between you and the Public Adjuster to see what time restrictions are stated in the contract. You should also review the terms of service of the public adjuster to see if any restrictions will prevent your exercising a right granted to you by the contract.