How to Deal with a Claims Adjuster

Every day, people make claims on their insurance policies. For most of us, it's bound to happen at some point in our lives. In many cases, a claim simply means completing & returning a claims form and speaking to your insurer. But often too, especially with higher-value claims and incidents like storm damage, you may have to deal with an adjuster - an expert working on behalf of the insurance company who assesses the value and accuracy of your claim.

 Understandably, adjusters are regarded warily by claimants: They’re regarded as attempting to reduce your payout. They may be employed by the insurer or work for an independent adjusting company, and you may have to deal with more than one, since some of them are specialists for particular aspects of certain claims.

 And while this may be so in some cases, the real aim should be to arrive at a negotiated settlement that works fairly for both sides. You can help yourself and smooth the process of dealing with a claims adjuster by following these steps:

•  File your claim as promptly as possible, providing as much information as possible. Speak to us if you need any help with this.
•  Be honest about the nature of the incident and the value of lost or damaged property or other costs.
•  Prepare an inventory of affected items; don’t dispose of them if you still have them. Gather any receipts or other evidence that establish a value of your loss  If you don’t have records, spend time writing down what you can remember.
•  Take photos of damaged items; if you wish, get your own contractor or other repair/replacement bids.  It probably won’t be necessary, but it’s your right.
• If you're seeking compensation for an injury, again take time to consider the financial impact, backed by professional opinion.
• Keep written records of all dealings with adjusters, including phone calls. You can record conversations as long as you inform the adjuster that you're doing so.
• Don’t accept any offer without carefully weighing up your options and seeking expert advice if appropriate.

And, if you later discover further loss or damage that wasn't in your original claim, you generally can claim for that loss, too, based upon  your policy’s terms

We can make your life ridiculously easy in a crisis!