Public AdjusterS
Someone to fight with the insurance company on your behalf sounds great, but there are some things you should know before hiring one
*This information has been checked for accuracy and non-bias by licensed insurance experts and representatives from National 501c3’s specialized in insurance advocacy. We are not insurance brokers. Consult with a licensed professional about your insurance policy and specific situation.
Another adjuster?
pub·lic ad·just·er
A “Public Adjuster” is different from the “Adjuster” your insurance company assigns to your claim - that’s your Desk Adjuster. A Public Adjuster works for you. The Public Adjuster and Desk Adjuster would talk to each other, and the Public Adjuster would report back to you.
Do I need a public adjuster?
Public Adjusters take a percentage of your total settlement, so generally the recommendation is to only hire one if you have truly hit a dead end. If you are underinsured, it’s worth asking:
Do I actually need one?
1.
What Do They do?
Break down your insurance policy
Estimate and document every category of damage (structure, contents, code upgrades, debris removal)
Handle communication with your insurance company
Push for a higher settlement based on expert documentation
2.
How much do they take?
Public adjusters work on commission. Typically, if they start working on your claim at the very beginning, they will charge between 5-20% of your entire insurance payout. Sometimes they will try to charge more if you have already been paid out some parts of your coverage.
3.
Is it worth it?
It depends on the complexity of your claim, how much coverage you have, whether you’re a total loss, and how cooperative your insurance company is being. If you have a total loss and they’re not arguing with you about your payout, there’s no reason to give a percentage to a public adjuster.
If your insurer is giving you a lot of grief, lowballing you, not paying you out, or if your claim feels too overwhelming, you might consider hiring a Public Adjuster.
Just know, there are good and less good Public Adjusters, just like in any other field, so be judicious.
4.
Can I get these services for free?
Sort of. There are a few entities that offer free support that might be enough to get you through.
Tugboat Claims offers a free policy help service.
United Policyholders teaches you how to advocate for yourself.
*PostFire does not advocate for the use of any commercial services, this is for informational purposes only.
Tips
1
If you do decide to hire a Public Adjuster, check whether their contract starts at the date your claim was filed, or the date they were hired.
2
Make sure you intuitively feel like you can trust them. Never hire someone who makes you feel untrusting, who upsells you, or is hard to get ahold of when you need them.
Check their license
Sadly there are a lot of folks who masquerade as Public Adjusters who are not licensed. Before working with someone, make sure they’re the real deal. Go to the link below, enter their name and then click on the license type that pops up.
The Bottom Line
Hiring a public adjuster can be a smart move — but it’s not always necessary.
If your claim is straightforward and your insurer is cooperating, you might not need one.
But if you’re hitting a real dead end, a public adjuster can help you get the most out of your policy.
Trust your instincts and, as always, read the fine print and check their reviews.
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Just Remember
Public adjusters work on commission, so weigh the cost against the benefit.
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Ask Questions
Read the contract, do the math on the total cost, and weigh what’s right for you.