Many Georgia residents pay for homeowners insurance every month, only to discover when disaster strikes, their insurance companies attempt to evade, minimize, or deny their claim.
That’s when you need a public insurance adjuster. At Insurance Public Adjusters of Georgia, we’re experts in Georgia insurance law. We can represent your rights while negotiating with the insurance agents on your behalf to make sure you get the highest possible insurance payout.
Typically, we handle home insurance and business insurance claims dealing with property losses resulting from causes such as:
- Fires
- Floods
- Storms, winds, and tornadoes
- Theft and vandalism
Public Insurance Adjusters: Legal Requirements
How do you make sure the public adjuster you work with is honest and trustworthy? All public insurance adjusters in Georgia must comply with strict state regulations:
Avoid conflict of interest
An adjuster licensed as both a public and an independent adjuster cannot represent both the insured and the insurer in the same transaction.
Suppose a public insurance adjuster suggests that you hire an attorney and recommends a specific attorney. In that case, the adjuster cannot accept money or any other compensation from that attorney in return for the reference.
In other words, you should be able to trust that the adjuster’s recommendation is honest, unbiased, and uninfluenced by any type of financial interest other than the service fee specified in the written contract between the client and the adjuster.
Avoid misleading information
An adjuster is not supposed to make you believe that you have to hire a public adjuster to receive a full insurance payout.
You get to decide whether you want to hire a public insurance adjuster or deal with your insurance company yourself—but a public adjuster can make your life easier if your insurance provider is trying to refute or drag out your claim.
Public adjusters know all the legal loopholes unscrupulous insurance companies tend to use and can leverage this knowledge to protect your rights. Likewise, a public adjuster is supposed to provide honest, realistic counsel regarding the insurance claim’s prospects.
For example, if it’s clear to the adjuster that the insurance policy coverage does not extend to certain types of losses, the adjuster should say so right away and save you time and aggravation. Be suspicious if the insurance adjuster promises miraculous results.
Adhere to proper licensing
Public adjusters are not attorneys and cannot present themselves as attorneys authorized to provide legal counsel and services.
The state of Georgia requires insurance adjusters to have a license. This process involves an application, licensing examination, and often a background check. If any operation requires a licensed adjuster, the adjuster cannot delegate it to an unlicensed representative or employee.
A Georgia public insurance adjuster also can’t:
- Pay the insured or offer any gift, prize, or anything of monetary value
- Falsely claim that they represent the insurer
- Attempt to solicit a client while a loss-producing event is in progress, meaning aggressive post-catastrophe pitches are not allowed.
How Do I Know a Public Insurance Adjuster is Trustworthy?
You want to work with a public insurance adjuster who is reliable and transparent, represents your interests, has plenty of experience, understands how insurance companies operate and can assess your claim realistically.
When looking for a public insurance adjuster, a personal recommendation from someone you can trust is ideal. Otherwise, look up customer reviews and trust your own impression. Go with an adjuster who is open, communicative, and ready to answer all your questions.
Questions to Ask a Public Adjuster
Before you hire a public adjuster, here are some questions you might want to ask:
- Are you licensed to practice public adjusting in Georgia?
- Who will be handling my claim? Will I have one dedicated go-to point of contact?
- How many similar local claims have you handled? Do you have any references from local clients?
- What are your credentials and experience? How long have you practiced public adjusting in Georgia?
- What fee will I have to pay? (Typically, public adjuster fees range from 5% to 15% of the insurance settlement.)
- What happens if I want to terminate the contract at any point?
Need Help in Dealing with Your Insurance Company?
Do you believe your insurance company is unfairly attempting to minimize or deny your claim? Insurance Public Adjusters of Georgia is here to help you negotiate with your insurance provider and make sure your rights are protected.
We have a 100% customer satisfaction policy, and we only receive a payment if you do you. That means zero upfront cost and zero risks.
We serve the Greater Atlanta area. Call us today at (404) 220-9366 for a free assessment and no-obligation consultation.
Copyright © 2021. Insurance Public Adjusters of Georgia. All Rights Reserved.
Insurance Public Adjusters of Georgia
1100 Peachtree St NE, Ste 200a
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 220-9366
https://www.insurancepublicadjustersofgeorgia.com/
