In most cases, your insurance company will send either a staff adjuster who is employed by the carrier, or contract with an independent claims adjuster to assess your damage and file a claim for you. Those adjusters may receive certain incentives from the insurance company based on how many claims they handle or how quickly the claim settles, which means settling your claim is just a number and incentive to them.

Make no mistake, these adjusters work for your insurance company and serve the best interest of their employer. A public adjuster works for you, the policyholder, with your best interests at heart, to make sure you receive everything you deserve under your insurance policy terms.

Time Savings/Hassle Reduction: In times of disaster, many homeowners and businesses have more important things to handle than the incessant demands for data and documents from their insurance company. A public claims adjuster will organize, manage and facilitate your claim and deal with those demands in order to minimize the time you have to spend on reaching a proper and fair settlement with your insurance carrier. They will be the point person for you on all insurance claims issues.

Insurance Policy Expertise: Insurance policies may be complicated and contain plenty of fine print that can be misinterpreted by a policyholder. That means you could leave money on the table that is rightfully yours, and not be fully funded to make all the necessary repairs to your damaged property. Public Adjusters are experts at reading insurance policies, fine print included, and interpreting those details to make sure you receive every penny you are eligible to receive under your insurance policy.

Faster Resolution of Your Claim: Understanding the language and the process with which insurance companies operate, and the laws by which they are bound, a Public Adjuster can expedite the claims process to get your claim paid faster. As your representative and advocate, a Public Adjuster can talk the talk and walk the walk to not only answer any questions the insurance carrier may have, but to apply just the right amount of pressure to get your claim paid more expeditiously.

Protect Your Rights as a Policyholder: Having a knowledgeable, experienced Public Adjuster on your side who understands not only insurance laws and adjusting protocol, but also your insurance company’s expectations in documenting and valuing your property damage can head off a lot of denials at the pass. When more aggressive measures are needed for you to receive a proper and just settlement on your claim, they can also act as an expert witness to defend your claim.

Negotiate a Fair Claim Settlement: A recent OPAGGA (Office of Program and Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) study in Florida showed that when a public claims adjuster was used in property loss and damage claims cases, they negotiated a 747% larger payout for business and homeowners than those cases where only insurance company adjusters were used. Public Claims Adjusters are on your side and act solely on your behalf to make sure you are completely and properly reimbursed for your damage loss claim. They are experts at advocating with insurance carriers for their clients.

Yes, a public adjuster is paid for his or her services. Usually we receive about twenty percent of the total settlement, but that is not paid upfront or out of your pocket.

We are paid only when your claim is settled by your insurance company. More good news is that in most cases we are able to negotiate a much higher settlement for you than you could receive relying on the insurance company’s staff adjuster.

Peace of mind from having an expert handling your claim and fighting for you is priceless.

Yes you can, but block out a lot of your time to document all aspects of your loss, try to understand the insurance policy you purchased and follow through with the agent and the company. However, if your loss is significant (more than $10,000) you should consider hiring your own insurance professional, a public insurance claims adjuster, to make sure you are properly represented.

Remember, the insurance company has their own insurance professional expert representing them. Shouldn’t you have professional representation too?

No they are not. Their services are available only to the insured public, not the insurance company.

License – Make sure their license is in good standing with the State of Florida and that they really are a licensed Public Adjuster. Some people will try to misrepresent themselves as Public Adjusters. Check here

Experience – Not all Public Adjusters are made equal. If you are hiring a professional to help you, you should hire the best, but someone who isn’t too busy to take your call or too egotistical to answer your questions in layman’s terms that you understand. Don’t be shy. Ask them about their experience, training and professional associations, which usually stipulate a strict ethical code be adhered to in their practice. Also, it’s always a good idea to ask for references, and check them!

Professionalism – Do not sign blank contracts. A professional public insurance adjuster will explain their fee structure and compensation expectations up-front so you understand why and what you’re are paying for and how.

Comfort Level – This intangible consideration may be quite important, especially if your claim is complex or extensive. The person you hire will be your guide to hold your hand and help you through the most trying time of your life.  Resolving complex claims could take some time, so find someone proactive with good communication skills, someone you feel comfortable standing beside you on your journey to claim resolution.

The answer to that question varies from state to state. Under Florida law, most companies are required to pay or deny claims within 90 days. The first payment,  an initial payout, is made within that time, however, the process to get payment for your complete loss can take longer. Elite Claims Consultants, however, has the experience and knowledge to minimize that time, while still maximizing your settlement to cover your full loss.

Yes, so long as you did not sign a full and final release with your insurance carrier. Some insurance companies may require you to sign a proof of loss or partial proof of loss before they will pay you, which could affect your ability to appeal the denial. Elite Claims can review your claim, your carrier’s denial, or partial payment, free of charge to answer that question.

Time on filing your follow-up claim or appeal is subject to a statute of limitations, so time is of the essence in getting those answers. We are here to help, so give us a call today!

We can help as long as you did not sign a full and final release on the claim with your carrier, and as long as your claim is not beyond your state’s statute of limitations.

In our experience, however, if you have a legitimate basis for filing a claim for additional damages and it is well-documented in a report by a professional public adjuster, insurance companies will often sit down with us in a good-faith effort to make you whole.

We offer a free consultation and review of your claim.

Not at all. Elite Claims Consultants can pick up the ball at any time during the claims process to relieve your stress and worries. Just fill out this quick form to give us a little information on your situation and we will review it and call you back as soon as possible.