Fire, Smoke, & Lightning Insurance Claim Support

A public adjuster is a licensed professional who represents the policyholder—such as a homeowner or building owner—during the insurance claims process. Unlike company adjusters or independent adjusters, a public adjuster works exclusively for you, not the insurance company.

Public adjusters and attorneys both have the legal authority to handle insurance claims, but their roles differ. Think of public adjusters as your first line of defense—they start from the very beginning by documenting your claim, preparing the estimate, presenting it, and guiding you through the entire process.

If a public adjuster can't secure the payment from the insurance company, that’s when bringing in an attorney may be necessary. The key difference is in the timeline: with a public adjuster, claims typically settle within 1 to 4 months, whereas involving an attorney and entering litigation can stretch the process to a year or more.

• A public adjuster represents the policyholder who hired them, advocating on their behalf throughout the claims process.

• A company adjuster is an employee of the insurance company and represents the company’s interests.

• An independent adjuster, although not directly employed by the insurer, is contracted by the insurance company to collect information for their adjuster.

  Essentially, public adjusters work for you, while company and independent adjusters work for the insurance companies.

No, hiring a public adjuster is not the same as getting a roofer or contractor to assist with your claim. The key difference lies in what public adjusters are licensed to do. Only public adjusters and attorneys are legally allowed to negotiate claims, discuss policy details, manage deadlines, and handle every aspect of the claims process.

Contractors and roofers can only provide estimates; they cannot deal with coverage issues, additional living expenses, disputes, or push the insurance company if communication stalls. While their expertise is valuable for repairs, they can’t guide you through the complexities of the claims process like a public adjuster can.

To help your public adjuster handle your claim efficiently, provide the following:

• A complete copy of your insurance policy;

• The Declarations Page (if you can't provide the full policy);

• Any invoices or receipts for repairs related to the loss;

• Photos or videos that document the event and the damage.

Claims handled by a public adjuster typically settle within 1 to 3 or 4 months. Insurance companies generally have up to 90 days to investigate a claim, and the public adjuster works to speed up this process. If the claim isn’t resolved within this timeframe, the next step may involve seeking the assistance of an attorney.

Insurance policies have specific requirements that you must follow, like documenting the loss immediately, filing the claim, providing estimates, and consistently following up with the insurance company. Chances are you might not be familiar with all these provisions or may overlook them.

A public adjuster handles all of this on your behalf—collecting the necessary documentation, accurately presenting the claim on time, and staying in contact with the insurance company throughout the process. Plus, thanks to their expertise, a public adjuster often secures a higher payout than you might get on your own.

The difference is clear—a public adjuster is a licensed, trained expert who specializes in handling insurance claims. They know how to read policies, negotiate with insurance companies, and maximize your settlement.

While you can file a claim on your own, your success depends on your ability to match the skills of a public adjuster. In most cases, hiring a public adjuster results in a payout that’s 50% to 500% higher than what you’d achieve on your own.

The cost of hiring a public adjuster varies by state, as some states have fee limits while others do not. Typically, public adjusters don't charge a flat fee but work on a contingency basis.

For instance, in Florida, the fee can be up to 20% of the claim, but during natural disasters, it's capped at 10%. In Texas, the fee is generally 10% of the total claim value. This structure ensures that public adjusters are financially motivated to maximize your settlement and resolve the claim quickly.

Your policy or claim number can be found on the Declarations Page, which is typically the first page of your insurance policy. This page also includes important details like the policy period, your agent’s contact information, mortgage company details, coverage limits, and deductibles.

To obtain a copy of your Policy, please work with your Insurance Agent / Company.