WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND I DO NOT AGREE ON A SETTLEMENT?

There is a section in your policy called "Appraisal" which is the dispute resolution clause available to you if a final agreement cannot be reached through the adjusting process.

Appraisal is basically binding arbitration and a relatively quick and effective way to resolve your claim without having to file a lawsuit.

The dispute resolution involves a representative of each party and a neutral third person Umpire. Contact us to discuss if Appraisal will help you.

WHY IS MY ADJUSTER TELLING ME NOT TO HIRE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER?

The insurance company would much rather you represent yourself because most policyholders are unfamiliar with damages, values and insurance contracts.

Most policyholders are experiencing a claim for the first time. They do not know what a Proof of Loss statement is or that that they have the Appraisal process to fall back on in case of a dispute.

Most claimants do not understand Replacement Cost Value and Actual Cash Value and how those values impact a proper settlement.

Most claimants do not recognize that there may be many coverages for damages in addition to the limits declared on the cover.

These are just some examples of why your insurance company would prefer an inexperienced policyholder. Your insurance company wants you to represent yourself rather than have you benefit from professional representation.

IS HIRING A PUBLIC ADJUSTER COST EFFECTIVE?

Our clients find that the public adjusting fee is covered many times over by the improvement in claim payments. In addition to the financial benefit is the benefit of peace of mind that comes from delegating the responsibilities to professional who reports to you.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE EXPERTS AT ASSOCIATED ADJUSTERS, PLEASE CALL US AT (248) 737-5170.