A Brief History of Public Adjusting

The History of the Public Adjuster: A Story of Justice and Advocacy

When a loss strikes your home or business, the path to recovery can feel overwhelming. You file a claim, and soon an insurance company adjuster arrives. But have you ever stopped to wonder, “Who is advocating for me?” That question sits at the heart of the public adjusting profession—a role with a history rooted in fairness, independent advocacy, and practical help for the policyholder.

At Rome Public Adjusting we believe understanding this history helps explain our work. We are not merely a business; we continue a long tradition of standing with the policyholder so that the promise made in the insurance policy is a promise kept.

The Foundation of American Insurance and the Original Imbalance

Insurance in the United States traces back to institutions such as Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia Contributionship, established in 1751. In those early years the claims process looked very different. There were no dedicated adjusters. The entire burden of proving a loss fell on the insured.

Early policies, including the New York Standard Fire Insurance policy, required policyholders to submit a sworn proof of loss within a short window—often just 60 days. Meeting that requirement demanded complex documentation, accurate valuation, and an understanding of policy language that most people did not possess. The result was an immediate imbalance that placed the policyholder at a disadvantage from the moment a loss occurred.

The Rise of the Adjuster and the Need for Independent Advocacy

As the industry grew more formal in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, insurance companies began employing their own adjusters. While this streamlined some processes, the adjuster’s primary duty remained with the employer—the insurance company. The disparity increased: the policyholder was now negotiating not only a complicated process but an expert representative of a large corporation.

This is where the first public adjusters appeared. They were professionals who recognized the inequity and offered their expertise directly to the policyholder. Their duty was exclusively to the client who hired them. They became the original independent champions of the consumer in the claims process, helping to carry the difficult burden of proving a loss.

The Modern Public Adjuster: Expertise and Practical Care

Today the public adjuster’s role is more important than ever. Policy language has grown more technical, damage-assessment tools such as Xactimate and CoreLogic are complex, and negotiation requires a working knowledge of industry standards.

A modern public adjuster brings specialized skills:

• Policy Interpretation — reading the policy, endorsements, and exclusions that most people overlook

• Damage Assessment — working with contractors and experts to identify and properly value the full scope of loss

• Documentation and Reporting — building a thorough, professional claim file

• Negotiation — advocating carefully and persistently for the settlement the policy provides

  
  

Our Commitment at RomePA

The history of the public adjuster is the story of a profession that arose to correct an imbalance. At Rome Public Adjusting we carry that history forward with a commitment to integrity, clear communication, and steady advocacy. When we say “People Are For Caring,” we are repeating a principle received from my father, Damon, and treating it as the practical purpose of the work.

We are here to help during a time of loss—to bring order to the process, to establish the facts, and to pursue a fair settlement. When you face a claim, you do not have to walk that path alone. The history of the public adjuster shows you have a right to an independent advocate. At RomePA we are here to be that advocate for you.

David Burrows Rome Public Adjusting

Benjamin Franklin helped birth the insurance industry in America