Key Takeaways
- After a major property loss, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure whether to call a lawyer or a public adjuster first.
- Public adjusters specialize in navigating the insurance claim process, interpreting your policy, documenting damages, negotiating with insurers, and ensuring you get the full value of your claim.
- Lawyers are most useful when a claim is denied, when there’s suspected bad faith or breach of contract, or when criminal activity caused the damage.
- Public adjusters work on a contingency basis (paid only when your claim is resolved), while lawyers often require an upfront retainer.
- The best time to call a public adjuster is immediately after damage occurs, even if you’ve already contacted your insurance company.
- Public adjusters and lawyers can work together — with the adjuster handling documentation and negotiations, and the lawyer pursuing legal action if needed.
- Many claims can be resolved without a lawyer, but having the right professional at the right stage can improve results and reduce stress.
- Insurance exists for a reason, but a public adjuster ensures you get the maximum benefit from your coverage while protecting your peace of mind.
Think for a moment about the unthinkable: a terrible calamity hits your house. A flood. A fire. Even an earthquake. You’ve sustained some serious damage. Of course, the damage doesn’t have to even be “that bad” to be a big problem. But damage is what you’ve got, and the only way through this situation is straight ahead.
You’re overwhelmed – you’re safe, your family and pets are safe, but now you’ve got a whole mess to deal with.
Flipping through your policy feeds the feeling of overwhelm, perfectly normal and understandable when dealing with a situation you’d hoped would be unthinkable. Where do you start? Straight in with mops and rags? Where are you even going to sleep until this is fixed?
Yeah…it’s a lot.
You may immediately think you’ve got to call your lawyer. After all, that car didn’t get installed on your back porch on its own. The bottle rocket that landed in your garage didn’t light itself.
Understandably, certainly, to think this might be time to reach out to a lawyer.
A closer look at your policy might reveal that the lawyer could come in handy, but not yet. First, you need to file a successful insurance claim and start rebuilding your home. That’s where we come in. It’s time to call the public insurance adjuster.
We’ve seen so many homeowners and business owners not sure of whether to reach out to the public adjuster or a lawyer. There are a few considerations to make when making your choice, and we can help guide you through it.
The Roles of Public Adjusters and Lawyers in Your Insurance Claim
As we’ve discussed before, a public adjuster specializes in getting the most out of your insurance claim. Adjusters have the insurance industry experience and speak the language. They will go over your policy with you, inspect the damage, and get right to the business of making your home whole.
A good public adjuster will make sure you have a place to sleep if necessary, deal directly with your insurance company, and ensure your claim is fully documented and represented.
Handling your insurance claim is exactly what we know best.
It’s tempting to call a lawyer right off the bat. Justice, right? Like I said…the car didn’t end up parked precariously on your porch on its own. Justice will be served. The police will track down the guy, and those wheels will begin turning. In the meantime, you’ll want to be dealing with the damage done to your house. Public insurance adjusters are built for this.
You may eventually need to bring in your Justice League. An adjuster knows the insurance end, and a lawyer can help navigate the complicated court system in the event of a claim denial or issues within the criminal system if your calamity had a perpetrator. If you suspect your insurance company is acting in bad faith, your lawyer can take the wheel and work through your case using the courts as their ammunition.
Public adjusters work on a contingency basis, meaning we don’t get paid until your claim is resolved. A lawyer, on the other hand, may require an upfront retainer.
When You Need Us
The best time to call your public insurance adjuster is now! If you’ve already called the insurance company to get the ball rolling, it’s still a good time to call.
An insurance adjuster will be your first line of defense against a complicated claim. When things seem relatively straightforward: fire, flood, storm damage, don’t forget bears, we can get right to the point with your insurance company. We’re experienced at documenting and valuation of your property and treasured items. Negotiating with the company is what we do best, and can help make sure you don’t leave any money on the table during the recovery process.
When a Lawyer Steps In
Might you need a lawyer? Yes, of course. If you’re faced with a denial of insurance coverage that can’t be resolved by negotiation, a lawyer can help. If you suspect bad faith or breach of contract, a lawyer can help. If a crime against your property is suspected, definitely time for a lawyer.
How We Work Together
Many cases don’t need a lawyer. But when they do, a public adjuster can work with them to provide that important documentation and support. This is a powerhouse of a team working for you, with your independent adjuster serving as the first battalion in your fight. Your legal team, taking on the insurance company and other parties using the power of the justice system, can get this accomplished with the best possible outcome.
So the Bad Thing happened. You made it through, but your house is a mess. Maybe your business took the damage. You need to have a safe roof over your head, and you can’t operate your business with six inches of standing water on your sales floor.
Roughly five percent of homeowners had to file an insurance claim in 2022. Less than half of policyholders had a comprehensive inventory ready to go in the event of a disaster. More than half of U.S. adults have experienced a loss as a result of weather-related damage in the past ten years. We have insurance for a reason, and public insurance adjusters for an even more important reason: your peace of mind and compensation.
Get your policy together, take care of any active or acute problems to help stop more damage from occurring: hang a tarp over the garage roof, board up that window.
Then, give us a call.
