This professional is the one who processes insurance claims to determine whether or not the insured is entitled to a payment. Many property claims adjusters work for insurance companies and will investigate claims involving homes, businesses, vehicles, and other insured property. To begin the process, the adjuster will speak with the claimant to determine the cause of the damage. When a legitimate insurance claim has been filed, the adjuster must calculate the cost to replace or repair the damaged property.
There aren’t many college courses that are specifically designed for those wanting to get into this field. When an insurance company hires a new property claims adjuster, they will generally look for people who have prior experience working in the insurance industry or have a legal work background. The working hours are often irregular. An example of why this is so is that if there is an accident they must investigate it, it can happen at any time of the day or night.
In an insurance agency they are known as a personal adjuster. They will interview the complainant along with any witnesses to find out the cause of the damage. The adjuster may also obtain a police report to help verify the claim if a report was filed. For injury claims, they may also request medical records to validate the claim. Another responsibility of the property claims adjuster is to establish whether the insurance is liable to pay the claim. Upon completion of the investigation, the adjuster will negotiate with the claimant until both parties reach a satisfactory agreement.
Some property claims adjusters also work independently under contract for insurance companies, but are considered self-employed. Many times, an insurance company does not need the services of the adjuster full time, so they will hire one as needed. It is less expensive to hire them as needed. In the case of self-employed workers, the adjuster will defend the interests of the party that hires them. Typically, they will be working for multiple clients over an extended period of time.
Whether you are an individual or a business, you can hire an independent property claims adjuster to help represent your case with your insurance company. The self-employed will do the same work as the employees of an insurance agency, but the only difference is that they look for evidence to support the claimant, who is the one who hired them. It is your job to prove the claim and not disprove it. The independent adjuster usually gets a percentage of the insurance settlement.