Independent Insurance Assessor; An independent adjuster is considered independent because they may not be employed directly by the company, firm, or agency in question, but rather by a third party who specializes in homeowners or other types of insurance claims. An independent Insurance Assessor adjusts claims on behalf of the insurance company, but not directly as an employee of the insurance company.
When contracted as a third party, the insurance company essentially outsources the claim and adjustment process to the claims processing company, which then hands it over to an officer.
Table of Contents
Main Point
- A claims adjuster is a professional tasked with evaluating an insurance claim to determine the insurer’s liability under the terms of the owner’s policy.
- An independent adjuster is not directly employed by the insurance company but is appointed by the insurance company when a claim is filed, providing third-party objectivity and greater fairness for those who file a claim.
- General officers are also independent but are appointed by claimants rather than insurers. In cases involving large dollar amounts, seizures help the plaintiff obtain the highest possible settlement from the insurance company.
Understanding Independent Insurance Assessor
Homeowners insurance will cover you against a variety of damages, such as storm damage or home invasion. If you have to file a claim on an insurance policy, the claims adjuster will come to assess the damage and the legality of the claim to the insurance company. Two types of adjusters typically perform a check: a general adjuster or an independent adjuster.
The independent Insurance Assessor may seem more beneficial to the homeowner, but the distinction between the two adjusters is often misunderstood.
What Is The Difference Between A Loss Adjuster And A Loss Assessor?
If this is your first time filing an insurance claim, there is a lot to accept. Part of this knows who does what in the claims process. One of the hardest things to understand is the difference between a loss adjuster and a loss assessor.
Both loss adjusters and loss consultants are insurance claims specialists; however, there is an important difference in their roles during the insurance claim process:
- Loss adjusters are employed by the insurance company but are supposed to remain independent.
- Loss Assessors work on your behalf, as the policyholder. They are independent insurance assessor professionals that you hire to protect your interests.
The job of the loss adjusting officer is to adjust the claim presented to him by the policyholder or loss assessors. The insurer pays a loss adjuster to decide what will and will not be paid.
How Does An Independent Insurance Assessor Work?
Independent regulators must comply with the licensing requirements of the state in which they operate. They can work as 1099 independent contractors or W-2 employees. They are usually appointed for one of two main reasons: a large number of claims and/or legal reasons. In times of natural disasters, the number of homeowner claims increases exponentially. For example, in 2012, Hurricane Sandy destroyed much of the New Jersey and New York coastline, destroying more than 650,000 homes.
As a result, homeowner’s insurance companies have seen a sharp increase in claims.
Insurance companies often do not have the human resources to delegate this type of responsibility and will therefore hire independent auditors to ease their workload. The insurance company may commission an outside insurance company to negotiate and evaluate cases on its behalf. The nature of this type of work also highlights the use of independent adjusters in remote or highly specialized areas. Examples include a farmhouse in the mountains or damage caused by a rare animal that doesn’t usually show up on most insurance claims.
In many cases, country-specific rules or a specific insurance contract requirement will also dictate the use of a separate adjuster. This is something to keep in mind when shopping for homeowners insurance and comparing different insurance companies. However, independent insurance auditors are not your only option. If you want your adjuster to handle the process for you, there are generic adjusters. General seizures only act on behalf of the owner and do not represent an insurance company in negotiations.
An example of an independent insurance assessor (adjuster)
If you own a home, it helps to understand when an independent insurance assessor may be necessary. For example, suppose a severe storm causes a tree on your neighbor’s property to fall into your yard, damaging your fence and part of your roof in the process. You file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance company and your insurance company hires an independent insurance agent.
An insurance officer will visit your property to assess the extent of the damage and take photographs. They can also talk to you and your neighbor to figure out what happened. Once you vacate your property, your insurance officer may consult with fence or roof repair professionals to determine the cost of repairs.
Once they have gathered all the necessary information, they will compile it into a report and send it to your insurance company. The insurer can then review the report and decide how much to pay for your claim, based on an independent insurance officer’s assessment.
Special Considerations Concerning Public Adjusters
General adjusters will do their own home damage assessments, and the insured can then submit the report to their insurance company. While, in theory, a general officer has the policyholder’s best intentions in mind, he should always be vigilant when appointing him. The inexperience of the homeowner and the specialization of the officer creates an opportunity for manipulation. The same goes for independent contributors and insurance companies in general.
One benefit for homeowners who use public adjusters is that, like an insurance attorney, the general adjuster receives a commission from the recall. In other words, they only get paid if you do, which encourages them to work in your best interest. His payments come from the money he receives from insurance payments.
The two general settings are also set to evaluate the work done by the independent adjuster to ensure no corners are cut and the homeowner receives as much as possible.
If he still believes his insurance company owes more than he is willing to pay, it may be necessary to hire an attorney to start a civil lawsuit.
Understanding the definition of an independent modifier is critical to your claims process. The independent officer does not represent the homeowner in any capacity; Instead, the independent adjuster represents the insurance company. If he prefers to have his own representation, it might be a good idea to use a generic setter.
6 (six) Tips for Dealing With An Insurance Adjusters
When you file an insurance claim for fire, flood, or other property damage, there’s a good chance your insurance company will involve an insurance adjuster in the process.
An insurance adjuster, or loss adjuster as it is also called, is assigned to investigate and assess the validity of your claim on behalf of the insurance company. They may contact you by phone and may ask you to visit your property to collect evidence and ask you a few questions to help them make their assessment.
Although insurance adjusters are required to remain impartial, they are appointed by the insurance company and therefore may use some “trade tricks” to secure the best deal for the employer.
If your insurance company employs an insurance adjuster, you should be prepared to visit them. Whatever your claim or situation, we recommend the top six tips for dealing with insurance adjusters that will help your claim go smoothly.
I. Check your policy
Before you speak with an insurance officer, be sure to get your facts straight. Remember: it is a negotiation process. Reread your insurance policy, taking into account the wording, before negotiations. Be aware of the terms and coverage included in your policy so you know what you’re entitled to (and what you’re not).
In addition to helping you negotiate, knowing the facts will make you more comfortable during a claim.
II. Be prepared
Insurance adjusters aim to complete the task as efficiently as possible, so making their work easier can help the process run smoothly. Having photos and any other evidence to support your claim ready can help them approve your claim for the amount you expect.
III. Be careful but helpful
When a claim is turned over to the insurance official, whatever you say can be used in their final assessment. Be careful of the wording you use when speaking to an insurance professional, in person and over the phone, to avoid using any words against you.
Likewise, do not provide any information that may be incomplete and used to discount the presentation, such as medical outcomes from injuries. When in doubt, the loss assessor can file the claim and deal with the insurance officer on your behalf.
IV. Be honest
Whatever the case, your job is to always be honest with your insurance adjuster so they can make a fair assessment. Do not embellish, exaggerate or modify any of the facts – it is a crime to do so. Make your case honestly based on your policy, and don’t be afraid to challenge any outcome that you feel is unfair.
V. Be polite
Even if things don’t go the way you hoped, or you feel the insurance official is behaving unfairly, remain polite throughout the entire claims process. Acting argumentative or aggressive will not help your case. The officer may not be on your side, but they don’t have to be the enemy.
VI. Know your rights
You should always let the insurance adjuster make the first offer to avoid a loss, but the first offer you receive may be much less than you expect. This is normal and you should not accept it.
Be prepared to negotiate by knowing what you are entitled to and working on the number you expect to get. If you disagree with the insurance official’s first offer, you have the right to appeal. Sometimes the adjuster won’t take the time to read the ins and outs of your policy, so don’t be afraid to show them the relevant parts.
Conclusion – Independent Insurance Assessor
Independent Insurance Assessor – Dealing with an insurance adjuster is something you don’t have to worry about but hiring your own Independent Insurance Assessor can definitely make the situation less tense. The loss assessor will submit your claim and negotiate with the insurance officer on your behalf so that you can achieve the highest bid possible. If you would like to learn more about how our loss assessors can help you, contact a member of our team.