Frank Adjustments

New Jersey Public Adjusters (732) 905 - 9594
Home Page
About Us
Contact Us
Frank Appraisals
FAQ
Site Map
Public Adjuster Blog
FAQ
 



Q: What is a Public Adjuster?
A: A Public Insurance Adjuster is an expert on loss adjustment and the recovery process, and is employed by the policyholder not the insurance company. The Public Adjuster assists you, the insured, with his intimate knowledge of insurance policies and negotiation techniques, in preparing, filing and managing the payment of insurance claims regarding property loss. He works on your behalf.
Q: If I work directly with the insurance company’s adjuster, won't I get the same results?
A: Most likely, no.
Insurance companies hire and train their adjusters to MINIMIZE your loss. Their adjusters work for the insurance company NOT for the homeowner. How likely is it that a person will get the maximum settlement to which he is entitled by using the insurance companies` own adjusters? Do not be misled.
The insurance company will try to minimize your loss utilizing several misleading tactics. They can try to convince you to repair the damage rather than replace it. They can "overlook" some damage knowing that the burden of proof is on the insured not themselves. They can estimate the repair cost at a much lower rate than it will actually cost. It is simply too easy to underestimate the true cost of the repair by yourself. They can agree to replace only the damaged portion although it won't quite match the rest of the house. You are entitled to repair or replace the damage to a pre-damaged condition - you don't pay those premiums for a patch up job. They can deny coverage because of an inadvertant slip of the tongue. Most people won't argue with their insurance company. Most people don't even know that they are being misled. That is why you need a public adjuster.
Q: Why do I need help with the claim?
A: There are several reasons why you may want to consider obtaining help with your claim:

1)Filing a claim requires a written, itemized statement of your losses. You may not realize what the extent of your damage is, and the insurance company is not obligated to tell you. The burden of proof is on YOUR shoulders. The Public Adjuster will help you identify everything to which you’re entitled.

2)Filing a claim is a tedious, time-consuming and aggravating process. The Public Adjuster can take this burden off your shoulders and free you to get your business or home affairs back on track. During this emotionally charged time, you just don't have the presence of mind to spend hours and hours over inventory itemization and to argue with your insurance company whether something should "just be repaired" rather than replaced.

3)You are at the mercy of the insurance company. Keep in mind, as someone untrained in handling insurance claims, you will be dealing with insurance "professionals" who will not hesitate to use any slip of the tongue against you. They may low-ball you and you won't even know it - until it's too late. The expert Public Adjuster knows exactly what it costs to repair the damage. He will find damage that the untrained eye will otherwise not see. He takes the entire picture into account and fights for you - down to the last penny. He is well versed with what the insurance company wants to hear and what they don't want to hear and he knows how to present your claim for maximum success. Think about it, in a court case, would you allow the opposing side to hire THEIR attorney to represent YOU? I don't think so. Then why would you allow the insurance company to hire THEIR adjuster to represent YOU?
A: No. A Public Adjuster can re-open your file and start renegotiating with your insurance company toward a higher settlement. However, once you have been paid it does become a bit more difficult. This is why it is wise to hire a public adjuster from the very beginning of the claim.
Q: How is a Public Adjuster compensated?
A: You pay absolutely nothing out of pocket! A Public Adjuster’s compensation is a small percentage of your insurer’s claims payments that are made to you. The Public Adjuster's fees are more than covered by the larger settlement he has obtained for you. Remember, if there is no settlement, there is no fee to you at all!
Q: What steps need I take to hire a Public Adjuster?
A:You contact our firm via telephone (732) 905-9594 or via our contact page and request a free review of your loss. You will need a copy of your insurance policy on hand. If you do not have it available, you can usually obtain a copy from your insurance agent with a simple phone call.  We examine your damage and we analyze your policy. We will then advise you whether or not it is in your best interest to hire a public adjuster or indeed to even file the claim. This is a free service. If we ascertain that we can help you significantly maximize your settlement, then you retain our services by signing a document allowing us to represent you and we take care of the rest!

 Frank Adjustments
New Jersey Public Adjusters
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone:732-905-9594
Fax:732-377-8575
henry@frankadjustments.com