If you’re dealing with an insurance claim, you may have many questions. Many people haven’t given much thought to what a public adjuster does or when one is needed – until they file an insurance claim. The insurance company should dispatch its adjuster to estimate your property damage and the compensation you should receive. However, if the insurance company offers you less than what you believe your claim is worth or has put off investigating your claim, you may wonder about other options.
No. The insurance company’s adjuster works for the insurance company, and it’s in their best interest to offer you as little money as possible for your claim. Sometimes insurance adjusters underestimate how much damage you have or what it will cost to repair it. They may believe a less expensive solution is the right way to fix your damage when this may only solve the problem temporarily, resulting in more future expenses.
On the other hand, a public adjuster works only for you, not the insurance company. When you get a Belle Glade insurance claim review from one of our, they will take their time inspecting your damage, understanding the scope of the problem, and working up a realistic estimate of what your costs will be. Next, they will forward this adjusted claim to your insurance company.
Generally, policyholders who hire public adjusters tend to receive higher insurance settlements than those who did not. That was particularly true for those who filed catastrophe claims in 2008 and 2009 related to the 2004 hurricanes. These policyholders received an average payment of $22, 266, while those who did not use a public adjuster received an average payment of $18,659. The difference was even more significant for claims related to the 2005 hurricanes, with public adjuster claims resulting in payments that were over 747% higher. However, its worth nothing that policyholders who use public adjusters have to pay a percentage of their settlement, but the net gain is far higher than when one does not use a public adjuster.
There are many factors that contribute to how long it takes to get your claim resolved, including the insurance company’s own timetable and whether or not they initially pay or deny your claim. With some claims, clients tell us that the insurance company adjuster put off visiting the property or simply ignored their calls and messages. Or the adjuster made a brief visit, promised to be in touch, and took weeks or months to respond. Some insurance adjusters may respond promptly but reject the claim for various reasons.
In many cases, claims made with the help of a public adjuster do take longer, but they also tend to be for higher amounts. The larger your claim, the more interest the insurance company has in looking for reasons to turn it down, so this can slow down the process. However, the benefit is that you may ultimately receive a more equitable settlement than you might with a faster process. If your insurance company is responding slowly or not at all, hiring a public adjuster may get things moving again.
Policyholders often have questions about choosing the ideal public adjuster, especially if they’ve already been approached by an adjuster. Frequently, public adjusters will travel door-to-door soliciting after a hurricane or other natural disaster. (Solicitation is legal from Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM.) While the OPPAGA report found that complaints against public adjusters are relatively low, it’s still important to perform due diligence before hiring a public adjuster. Take their card and look up the company on the Insurance Department of Florida’s website. You’ll want to check the following:
Public adjuster fees are negotiable, but price shouldn’t be your only consideration. A more experienced adjuster may charge a little more, but their knowledge could help you receive a larger payment from the insurance company. You should not seek to hire the least expensive adjuster around, but the one you feel is best suited to the job.
State law caps public adjuster fees at 20 percent, except when the governor has declared a state of emergency (most commonly, this happens after hurricanes) when fees are capped at 10 percent. It’s illegal for the adjuster to charge you fees for any insurance payments you received before signing a contract with the adjuster. However, they can charge you fees on any further payments you receive after their services are rendered.
Sometimes people tell us that they felt rushed into making a decision by an adjuster who pressured them, or that they wish they’d done more exploration before signing a contract with an adjusting firm. If you change your mind or realize you did not do enough research on the public adjuster, you have 10 days to cancel the contract without penalty.
At Pinnacle Claim Services, we employ only the most experienced and knowledgeable public adjusters. We have experts who can assist you with various property damage situations, sinkhole damage, including fires, hurricane and weather damage, leaking or burst pipes, floods, mold damage, vandalism, and many other situations. Additionally, our adjusters know what insurance company adjusters do when reviewing a claim, and will work to give your claim the best chance of being approved. We carefully document all damage so it will be hard for your insurance company to refute that it occurred.
Our adjusters take the time to carefully review the damage and look at the big picture. Is the current damage likely to be all of the damage? Or are you at risk of further problems due to the current damage? Some insurance adjusters may only want to pay to address the most obvious issues, leaving you at risk for further bills down the line.
But don’t take our word for it – take a look at our many five-star reviews from satisfied customers, many of whom received an additional check from the insurance company after we reviewed their claim. We also have accreditation and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
We meet a lot of clients who are frustrated or simply exhausted from dealing with their insurance company. Common complaints include being asked to submit documentation multiple times, insurance adjusters who never call back, being denied for a wide variety of inaccurate reasons, or receiving a lowball offer that won’t cover all the damage. Unfortunately, calling an insurance company can take time and is often a stressful experience. Additionally, the insurance adjuster will probably record everything you say and look for more excuses to deny your claim.
With Pinnacle Claim Services, you can stop struggling to get fair compensation. Our experienced adjusters will talk with the insurance company representatives and negotiate a fair settlement to cover your costs.
If you’re not sure if you need a Belle Glade public adjuster, have questions about the settlement your insurance company offered, or have other questions or concerns, please call or contact us online today. Our friendly staff will be available to provide you with a free quote and answer any questions you have about the process.
Living in South Florida, we are no strangers to natural disasters.
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When disaster strikes, it can be difficult knowing where to turn or who to ask for help. Pinnacle Claim Services’ professional team of Florida public insurance adjusters and support experts are here to assist you throughout every step of your damage claim from emergency services and mitigation through final settlement.
Some of the most common issues people experience with insurance companies after property damage has occurred and a claim has been initiated include: unreasonable delay on the part of the insurance company, inadequate training of the insurance company’s adjusters and adjusters that are “so busy” that your claim gets zero attention and does not progress towards resolution. Additionally, you may not have the appropriate policy with the right type of coverage or limits.
There is no set time period for settling a property damage claim with an insurance company and each claim is different. You could receive a check in a few days or it could be a few weeks. Also, it may take multiple rounds of negotiations and payments for you to be adequately and justly compensated for your claim.
Absolutely not. Some companies do possess better reputations than others and there are some who consistently delay the process unnecessarily. It’s important that you comply with your “duties after the loss” (duty to mitigate etc.) Call us, we can help!
Pinnacle Claim Services will request a copy of your policy, file the proper paperwork for you, put together a comprehensive estimate of damages and negotiate a fair settlement Do not become emotionally burdened. Do not be denied money for repairs you deserve. Rely on Pinnacle Claim Services to work on your behalf, keeping you informed throughout every step of the process to get every penny you deserve from the insurance companies.
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