Adjuster - Defined

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Insurance companies do not pay out claims without first investigating them. They hire insurance claims adjusters to determine that the company is liable and the claim amount is not exaggerated.

But they are not the only people to use adjusters. You can hire one, too, to ensure that the insurer does not underestimate your damages.

While you can investigate and estimate personal or property settlements, an adjuster is more qualified to do the job. They are less likely to overlook less obvious expenses such as demolition and cleaning costs.

What are the different types of adjusters?

All adjusters perform similar tasks. They only differ based on who hires them, how, and why. The different types of adjusters are as follows:

• Insurer adjusters
• Public adjusters
• Independent adjusters

Here is an explanation of how each adjuster works.

How do insurer adjusters work?

Insurer adjusters work for a specific insurance company. Whenever you file a claim with your insurer, their adjuster goes to work to investigate your claims. They determine whether:

• The claim is fraudulent.
• Your policy covers the damages.
• The company is liable.
• The amounts are correct.

Adjusters also decide how much the insurer should pay you and authorize such payments. To do so, insurer adjusters will interview you and any witnesses. They will evaluate the damages and go through records to ascertain facts.

You should be honest with insurer adjusters but not feel intimidated to stand up for your rights. Remember that they work for the insurance company and aim to negotiate the lowest payment possible. So, if you feel they are unfair, you can hire a public adjuster to help.

What does a public adjuster do?

A public adjuster works for individual consumers like you to advise on how much damages will cost to repair. They should have a license to practice in your state.

Suppose that you insure your home against natural disasters. If a hurricane destroys the garage, the insurance company should pay to demolish the rubble and rebuild the garage. But you may not know how much you will need to repair the damages. So you hire a public adjuster to work out the costs for you.

As we said earlier, a public adjuster knows to recognize seemingly minor costs that can quickly add up.

In cases where you feel the public adjuster is not helping, you can hire an attorney and pursue litigation.

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Who are independent adjusters?

Independent adjusters work like insurer adjusters. The only difference is that rather than be full-time employees, they work as freelancers, taking on jobs on a contract or as-need-be basis. These adjusters help insurance companies who are overwhelmed by claims. They also work for insurers who don’t have an office or regular adjusters near the claimant.

Independent adjusters can advise but cannot represent homeowners in case of claims. You would need to pay a public adjuster to act on your behalf. As shown in the example above, adjusters get paid part of your award, so you do not need to pay them upfront.

Who can work as an adjuster?

You do not need much education to work as an insurance claim adjuster. Sometimes you must be 18 years or older, have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent, and be a bonafide citizen of your state. You may also need to take an insurance exam to obtain a license. Some positions require a college degree, but it's not the norm.

But as with every profession, it is the soft skills that matter most. A claims adjuster needs good communication skills, self-discipline, and motivation to work. You must also be reliable for someone to want to hire you.

Who is an adjuster?

An insurance claims adjuster or examiner investigates damages claims to ensure they are not fraudulent and estimates are the correct amounts.

An adjuster can work for an insurance company or an individual consumer to protect their rights when paying or filing a claim.

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