Start My Answer
loading...

Adjuster - Defined

Dena Standley | March 06, 2023

Dena Standley
Legal Expert, Paralegal
Dena Standley, BA

Dena Standley is a seasoned paralegal with more than 20 years of experience in legal research and writing, having received a certification as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal from Southern Technical College.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Insurance adjusters are like ^^

Summary: An adjuster assesses damages, evaluates the cost of repairs, and establishes the validity of insurance claims. They interview witnesses and claimants, talk to the police, and review hospital records to determine if the company is liable and if the estimate is reasonable.

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.

Example: A fellow driver rear-ended Harold’s car at a pedestrian crossing. Harold had stopped in accord with the stoplights. The other driver accepted liability, and his insurance agreed to pay. But Harold knew nothing about the cost of car parts and the labor the car needed. So he hired a public adjuster to help. The adjuster examined the damages, talked with a mechanic to establish the cost of repairs, and reviewed Harold's and the other driver's insurance policies. After confirming the estimates, he helped Harold file a claim with the insurance. The public adjuster got paid a percentage of Harold's compensation.


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

Win debt collection lawsuits without an attorney.

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.

Settle your debt collection lawsuit without an attorney.

What is Solo?

Solo makes it easy to resolve debt with debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt. SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

SoloSettle can help you contact your debt collector or creditor and negotiate the debt to settle for less, all online. It simplifies and streamlines the process to settling your debt.

No matter where you find yourself in the debt collection process, Solo is here to help you resolve your debt.

Respond with SoloSuit

Get Started

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Get debt relief in your state

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt collection laws in all 50 states

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

Check the status of your court case

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.

How to stop wage garnishment in your state

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.

Other wage garnishment resources

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

Other debt settlement resources

Personal loan and debt relief reviews

We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.

How to repair and improve your credit score

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt.

How to resolve student loan debt

Struggling with student debt? SoloSuit’s got you covered. Below are resources on handling student loan debt.

Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection

How-to debt guides

Learn more with these additional debt resources

It only takes 15 minutes.

And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.


"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather



Get Started

Contents