The term “insurance adjuster” may not be foreign, but knowing what an insurance adjuster actually does is something that many are unclear about. In the wake of Hurricane Ian, South Florida residents are having to become well-versed in the different aspects and roles within the insurance industry. Whether it was you personally that experienced damage or someone you know, Hurricane Ian has raised the level of awareness around the topic of insurance claims and all of the people and the processes involved. As a result, it’s also generated some misinformation and confusion.
When educating yourself on the insurance adjusters and their role in an insurance damage claim, it’s essential to understand that although the job itself is the same, there are three very different types of insurance adjusters – knowing the difference between them can have a drastic impact on the outcome of your claim.
There are three types of adjusters that deal with insurance claims processes:
- Public adjusters – advocate on behalf of the property owner and ensure that their liberties and basic rights are fairly upheld in the claims process. This person becomes your hired representative to look out for your interests to ensure that all damage to your property is acknowledged and properly compensated.
- Company adjusters – an insurance adjuster that is paid a salary or hourly rate solely by one insurance company, whose job is to process claims settlements in such a way that keeps the company profitable.
- Independent adjusters – an “independent agent” that is paid a commission by an insurance company to settle claims on behalf of the insurance company. They may do contracted work for multiple different insurance companies, but are still contracted to serve the insurance company.
Why does this matter? Consider this parallel relative to different types of “lawyers” in a criminal case:
- Defense attorneys – advocate on behalf of those accused of criminal activity and ensure that their liberties and basic rights are fairly upheld within the justice system.
- Prosecuting attorneys – represent the government against which an alleged crime was committed, whether on the local, state, or federal level.
The people in both of these roles are “lawyers”. The difference is in who they are working for. The same applies to “insurance adjusters”. Who an insurance adjuster works for matters a great deal to you when negotiating your insurance damage claim.
Public adjusters are paid a percentage of the claim amount for the work that they do – and that amount is capped by Florida law. In Florida, 10% is the maximum amount that a public adjuster can charge for services rendered in a declared state of emergency. By the very nature of the payment structure, a public adjuster is motivated to apply their knowledge of the claims process to get you the highest amount possible.
Port Saint Lucie Hurricane Ian Headlines
City of Port St. Lucie Hurricane Ian Advisory #2 – WQCS
City of Port St. Lucie Hurricane Ian Advisory #3 – WQCS
Photos: This is what Florida looks like after Hurricane Ian – NPR
St. Lucie County updates: Hurricane Ian impacts Wednesday in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce
