What is the Role of an Insurance Adjuster?
Insurance adjusters, often employed by insurance companies, are trained to evaluate damages to property and personal injuries. They consider the extent of injuries or damages and make an informed recommendation to the insurance company about how to settle claims. In short, insurance adjusters determine the liability the insurance agency has in given situations.
What’s Expected of an Insurance Adjuster?
Commonly, an adjuster is assigned a claim as soon as it is filed against an insurance policy. Usually, they are employees of the insurance agency. The adjuster evaluates what the policy will and will not cover. Since the evaluation needs to take place on a timeline specified by the insurance agency, the adjuster will usually promptly contact the claimant and make arrangements to inspect any property that may be damaged. Sometimes the adjuster visits medical facilities to find out the details of personal injury cases. They may also conduct interviews to clarify any questions about the events that caused the injuries or damages.
The inspector’s job is to research market comparisons and accurately determine what the insurance company should pay the claimant. Since the adjuster often works for the insurance company, their main job is to avoid large, avoidable payouts to the client filing the claim. Having someone overseeing your lawsuit could be in your best interest. Dawson & Rosenthal, P.C. has you covered.
Responsibilities of an Insurance Adjuster
Specifically, the adjuster is the person who works to determine the amount that the insurance company owes the claimant. They offer informed knowledge of the area’s current value and cost for damages and medical procedures. Adjusters recommend what the payout for material damages or personal injury should be. Their focus is protecting the company for whom they work.
- Part of their responsibility is submitting a detailed summary of the injuries and damages to the insurance company. This often requires a physical, in-person visit.
- Sometimes, interviews are needed to determine the extent and cost of damages or treatments.
- Adjusters investigate soon after claims are filed. There are strict guidelines about how soon this happens after an incident.
- Sometimes, these adjusters negotiate repair services with merchants on the cost of repairs and replacements.
- Adjusters will reevaluate if the claimant has new evidence or disagrees with the insurance company’s decision. They’re already familiar with the case and will be asked to revisit it if you feel a settlement is unfair.
After experiencing accidents, personal property damages, or injuries, you will undoubtedly deal with a claims adjuster. They must be fully informed of the details of your claim and the details of your policy so that you are fairly compensated for your damages and injuries.
What is a Public Adjuster and When to Involve One
If you believe your insurance company is ignoring your claim or is not offering you a fair settlement, you will want to contact an insurance attorney. At times, it will be necessary for the attorney to hire a public adjuster. They can provide an unbiased accounting of events and the accepted standards upheld by the industry. They can conduct interviews and communicate with law enforcement and medical personnel to identify any issues the insurance company’s adjuster may have overlooked or omitted to favor the insurance company’s best interest.
Hopefully, you will never need to file a claim. But, if you do, the San Diego bad faith insurance lawyers at Dawson & Rosenthal, P.C. can make sure your interests are represented.