Choosing Better Insurance

If you need to file an insurance claim after a major disaster, you may want a public adjuster to help you through the process. A public adjuster will look out for your interests, and they might be able to get you a larger claim pay-out. Here's how to find a well-qualified public adjuster should you need one following a major disaster.

Look for an Adjuster Sooner Rather Than Later

Don't wait for a public adjuster to approach you and offer to help with an insurance claim. Instead, be proactive and actively seek one out — and do so as soon as you reasonably are able to after the disaster. Speed is important for a couple of reasons.

First, the best public adjusters won't have to pitch themselves to potential clients. They'll have many people who want to hire them, and their schedules may quickly become booked. This is especially likely following a major disaster that affected many people in an area. You'll want to hire one of the best ones in your area before they become fully booked.

Second, some states have laws that prohibit public adjusters from approaching potential clients too soon after a disaster. For example, Florida requires public adjusters to wait 48 hours after a disaster before they solicit work from potential clients. 

While such laws are to help ensure you aren't deluged with sales pitches immediately following a disaster, you don't necessarily need to wait two full days to hire an adjuster. You're welcome to initiate a conversation with an adjuster sooner. The sooner you start talking with an adjuster, the sooner they can begin helping you with your claim.

Make Sure the Adjuster Is Licensed in Your State

Most states require public adjusters to be licensed in order to work as an adjuster in that state, and all qualified public adjusters will be licensed. Nonetheless, you should still confirm that any adjuster you speak with is licensed in your state. With a major natural disaster, there is one particular license-related issue that can arise. The aftermath of a major natural disaster often overwhelms the public adjusters who live in that area with work. If there's too much work for local adjusters to handle, some companies will fly in adjusters who travel around the country.

Public adjusters who fly into a disaster area can be highly qualified and licensed in another state, but they need to become licensed in the state where the disaster occurred. This usually takes just a short while, for most states have licensure reciprocity agreements. Thus, you might have to wait a day or two for a traveling adjuster's licensure to come through.

For more information, contact a public insurance claim adjuster like Anthony Ricciardi Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster.