Adjuster

An adjuster is the professional who investigates an insurance claim and determines how much the carrier owes you. When you file a claim, the carrier assigns an adjuster to visit the loss site, document the damage, review your policy, and produce a written settlement estimate. That estimate becomes the starting point for your payout.

There are three types of adjusters and they serve different interests. A staff adjuster is a direct employee of your insurance company. An independent adjuster is a contractor hired by the carrier -- often during high-volume periods like after a major storm -- but still working on the carrier's behalf. A public adjuster is hired and paid by you, the policyholder, and their job is to represent your interests and maximize your recovery. Public adjusters typically charge 10 to 15 percent of the final settlement.

After a large weather event, staff and independent adjusters may inspect dozens of properties in a single day. Estimates can miss damage, undervalue scope, or apply the wrong pricing for your area. If the initial settlement offer feels too low compared to contractor estimates you have received, you have options: request a re-inspection, submit written contractor estimates, hire a public adjuster to negotiate, or invoke the appraisal clause in your policy, which brings in a neutral third-party appraiser to resolve the dispute.

Knowing the type of adjuster you are dealing with helps you understand their incentive. A carrier-assigned adjuster is not your adversary, but they do not work for you. Read any settlement offer carefully, compare it to at least two independent contractor estimates, and do not sign a release until you are confident the settlement covers the full scope of the repair.