By Samantha Zherka

Hiring a public adjuster offers benefits when dealing with an insurance claim.

Public adjusters are licensed by the state Department of Financial Services. A public adjuster works on behalf of the policyholders to help navigate the insurance claims process, protect the policyholders provisional interest in order to ensure that homeowners and business owners receive a maximum claim settlement.

A public adjuster’s license is provided in New York State after successful completion of an approved course.

Some of the approved courses are home-based. After successful completion of the course and passing the New York State licensure test and a background check, the license is issued. A very simple process to handle complex insurance claims matters.

The very first and most crucial advisement this article will offer is to not sign on a public adjuster who “chases the fire” immediately after your fire or major loss.

Researching a public insurance adjuster before hiring them in the state of New York is a crucial step to ensure you’re working with a qualified and reputable professional. Here’s a guide on how to research a public insurance adjuster effectively:

Verifying that the public insurance adjuster is licensed in the state of New York can be done by going to the New York State Department of Financial Services website or by contacting the department directly.

Here you can also check to see if there were any customer complaints filed. Online reviews may also be a source.

Also, request a list of references and verify that these referenced homeowners/business owners experience meets your expectations of representation.

Finally, the good old-fashioned way is to pay attention to your instincts and measure how comfortable you feel with the adjuster. Comfort is the first step in building trust which is essential in this professional-client relationship.

While it does not take much education to become a public adjuster, it is essential to engage a well-versed and experienced one who has the knowledge about insurance policies, claims processes, case and statutory laws specific to NYS.

A well-versed experienced adjuster will have expertise in handling various types of claims, from property damage to loss of income, and can use their experience to your advantage. Hence, maximizing your claim while securing your interest.

• Public adjusters work to maximize your insurance claim payout.
• A skilled public adjuster will thoroughly assess the damages, estimate the true value of your losses, and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you receive a fair settlement that covers all your losses.
• A skilled public adjuster experience can help avoid delays and disputes, resulting in a quicker resolution.
• A skilled public adjuster will be proficient at documenting the extent of your damages, including hidden or less apparent damage, which can often be overlooked by insurance adjusters.

Overall, dealing with insurance claims adjusters who are highly trained and have excessive exposure to the claims process, policy and current case law can be a homeowner’s and business owners’ worst nightmare.

The policy language and contract are very difficult to navigate and or interpret. The claims process after a catastrophic event is overwhelming, leaving one to become fatigued, and confused resulting in low settlements that are insufficient to rebuild and get your life back on track.

Hiring a public adjuster can take much of the burden off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on recovery and other important matters while they handle the claims process.  Lastly, your public adjuster works on your behalf for a percentage of the settlement.

They do not get paid until you the policy holder get paid. It keeps them working hard on your side just as the insurance carrier adjuster does for their bosses.

For more claims information and guidance please call Samantha Zherka 718-518-7100.