Insurance Adjusters Vs. Lawyers
A professional well-versed in insurance policies can help you answer the questions you have when unfortunate events strike. You may wonder if an insurance adjuster or lawyer is better equipped to advise you on your insurance claim.
Generally, an adjuster is a licensed expert who possesses training in the intricacies of insurance claims, including how to assess repair or replacement costs accurately, and the evaluation of insurance plans. Conversely, an insurance attorney provides very similar services, with the added advantage of being able to legally negotiate or process a lawsuit against your insurer should things get adversarial.
Many policyholders choose to hire a public adjuster first as they initiate the claim, then bring in the attorney to aid with legal processes.
Similarities Between Insurance Adjusters And Lawyers
Both a lawyer and an insurance adjuster can offer professional advice to assist in your insurance claim.
Both are highly-trained experts who possess knowledge in complex technical insurance fields and can analyze reports on the damage suffered and types of repairs necessary for you so you don’t have to. They have a common core objective, which is to find a settlement in your best interests and a most economical solution.
Furthermore, their services are tailored to your needs, which means that they will be available to you for questions about your claim, keep you constantly updated and conduct efficient communications. Fundamentally, whether you hire a lawyer or a public adjuster, their responsibility is to determine whether your insurance firm has done you justice with the settlement they offered.
If you are faced with a lowball amount, your advocate can expertly advise you regarding alternative legal remedies or negotiation paths. This would also be helpful to protect you from underhanded or unethical insurance bad faith practices.
Benefits of Hiring a Public Adjuster Instead of a Lawyer
What a public adjuster can do for you is to conduct a thorough inspection, then evaluation of your property damage, then review your insurance policy and the avenues available for a claim. The adjuster will then assist you in adhering to the policy requisites. For example, they will remind you to be aware of time limitations or the need to commence mitigation of future potential damages. They will also help to document your losses with a preliminary inventory and provide you with an estimation. Ultimately, the aim is to work with you to form a claim management strategy that maximizes your financial recuperation. The best adjuster will also coordinate all meetings with your insurance company while ensuring that you are kept in the loop at all times.
On the other hand, an attorney will be more prepared to structure your claim in legal dimensions and strengthen your case from a litigation standpoint. It may benefit you tremendously to get an assessment of potential legal gaps and issues that may arise later in the game as opposed to a mere evaluation of damages that an adjuster provides.
Other differences include the method of inspection. Adjusters usually do inspections personally and are present when the adjuster representing your insurance company does their checks. An attorney will generally send an independent contractor or expert on their behalf to aid you, although this person may not understand legal terminology at all.