Insurance Claims 101 - When Is It Too Late To Hire A Public Adjuster?

Since Florida is prone to natural disasters that generally cause a great deal of damage to properties, residents of this state rely heavily on insurance to fix their homes without going through unnecessary financial ruin. 

While insurance can help cover the damage for many perils that homeowners face, not every insurance claim is smooth sailing. For instance, it’s not uncommon for the insurance company’s adjuster to minimize the settlement offer or reject your claim altogether.

Fortunately, public adjusters can help handle your claim and ensure you receive the amount of money you need to cover all damages. 

In today’s post, we’ll go over the basic information and answer the question of when is it too late to hire a public adjuster Florida. 

Insurance Claims Process Explained

If you’ve never filed an insurance claim, the following example will help you understand the entire process. 

Let’s say a pipe bursts in your upstairs bathroom while you’re at work. After the bathroom floods, gravity pulls the water toward the ceilings in the rooms on the floor below, and water ends up ruining your hardwood floors. 

The logical step is filing a claim to remediate all the property damage. You first need to report the incident to your insurance company, and they’ll send their adjuster to evaluate the damage and estimate the cost.

Later, you’ll receive an offer for a certain amount, and if it’s enough to cover the repairs, good. However, what should you do if you disagree with the insurance company’s offer? You can hire a public adjuster.

What Do Public Adjusters Do?

Public adjusters are individuals who specialize in insurance claim matters and file claims on behalf of homeowners. They have a deep knowledge of insurance policies and are experts in the claims process. Most importantly, they’re familiar with all the tricks insurance adjusters use to undervalue claims. As such, they can help homeowners maximize their settlements. 

Most policyholders hire public adjusters if their insurer denies or undervalues their claim, yet, you can hire them even earlier in the claims process.

Benefits Of Hiring a Public Adjuster

Many homeowners assume they don’t need to hire a public adjuster because the insurance company will send out an adjuster anyway. Little do policyholders know, these adjusters work primarily in the interest of the insurance company, meaning they want to help their employers save money. 

Trusting the insurance company’s judgment and accepting their initial offer may lead you to sacrificing the quality of your restoration work or spending more money if you want to make proper repairs. 

On the other hand, hiring a public adjuster Florida comes with unique benefits, including:

1. Take Advantage of Deep Expertise in Insurance Claims

Navigating a complex insurance claim is intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. Since public adjusters handle insurance claims all the time, they know everything about policies, claims process, and different types of coverages and endorsements. 

By working with them, you can take advantage of all their knowledge, which can lead to a more successful claim. 

2. Public Adjusters Work for You

Generally speaking, your interests and those of your insurance company are in conflict, and the insurance adjuster will always look for ways to minimize your payout. In contrast, a public adjuster works for you and they’ll use their skills to secure a fair settlement that reflects the coverage described in your policy. 

3. Maximize Your Settlement

Public adjusters have the expertise to provide you with an accurate estimate of repairs and will work diligently to negotiate a settlement. They can thoroughly analyze your policy, then identify and seek all the applicable damages you may not have been aware of in the first place. 

4. Ensure a Smooth Claims Process

Dealing with insurance is very time-consuming. By hiring a public adjuster Florida, you have a valuable partner who will handle all the necessary paperwork and act as a liaison in negotiations with the insurance company. This helps ensure a smooth claims process and saves you a hefty amount of time. 

5. Level the Playing Field

Most public adjusters have worked for insurance companies in the past. Hence, they possess insider knowledge that helps them enter into productive discussions with adjusters working for the insurer. 

This ultimately levels the playing field, thereby increasing your chances of receiving a fair settlement.

When Is It Too Late To Hire A Public Adjuster?

What if you already filed your claim - can you still benefit from hiring a pro? It’s only  natural to worry about when is it too late to hire a public adjuster Florida.

There are time frames you need to respect. The best time to hire a public adjuster is as soon as you report a claim to the insurer. That way, the adjuster has plenty of time to review your claim and related documentation before they file anything on your behalf. 

If you already filed a claim or the claim was closed, it doesn’t mean you can’t hire a public adjuster. In fact, you can still file an appeal which a public adjuster can help you with. 

So if you’re wondering when is it too late to hire a public adjuster, the answer is never. 

Receive What You’re Entitled To Under Your Policy

Although insurance companies can help you receive the compensation necessary to make repairs, it’s rarely that straightforward. After all, insurers are running a business and need to protect their bottom line. 

Nevertheless, you are entitled to fair compensation and you can receive it by working with a public adjuster.

Insurance companies mostly rely on the desperation and ignorance of homeowners to get them to buckle down and agree to the most minimal settlement. A public adjuster Florida can tip the balance in your favor and get you the money owed to you under your policy.

Don’t know who to call? Then Continental Public Adjusters are your best bet. We’ve been fighting for the rights of policyholders since 1982, and we even helped settle hundreds of Hurricane Andrew disaster claims. 

Receive fair compensation and schedule a claim review by calling (800) 989-4769.