Who Is Really On Your Team? Understanding the Three Types of Adjusters

When a fire, storm, or other disaster strikes your home, chaos can take over. You're left with a mess to clean up, a life to put back together, and a complicated insurance claim to navigate. As you begin this journey, it’s critical to know who is really on your team. In the world of insurance, there are three types of adjusters, but only one works exclusively for you.

Let's break down the difference between a Staff Adjuster, an Independent Adjuster, and a Public Adjuster.

The Staff Adjuster: The Company's Employee

A Staff Adjuster is a direct employee of the insurance company. They are paid a salary by the carrier and are sent to your property to inspect the damage and write the initial estimate. While they are expected to be fair, their primary duty is to protect their employer’s financial interests.

• Analogy: The Overseer of the Corporate Silo. A Staff Adjuster is like an overseer who works for a large corporation that buys and stores grain. They come to your field to assess the crop's value, but their goal is to buy your grain at the best possible price for their employer, not to ensure you get a generous return for your work.

The Independent Adjuster: The Hired Hand

An Independent Adjuster is not a direct employee of the insurance company but is hired on a contract basis, usually during large-scale disasters. They are brought in to help the carrier manage a high volume of claims. They are paid by the insurance company to inspect, evaluate, and settle the claim on the carrier's behalf.

• Analogy: The Hired Measurer. An Independent Adjuster is like a measurer hired by the grain company to count the bushels of damaged wheat. They are paid to be efficient and accurate, but they still work for the company, not for you, the farmer.

The Public Adjuster: Your Fiduciary Advocate

A Public Adjuster, like RomePA, is the only type of adjuster who works exclusively for the policyholder. We are hired and paid directly by you, and our sole mission is to advocate for your interests. This is our fiduciary duty, a concept deeply aligned with the Orthodox principles of justice and care. We are legally and ethically bound to put your interests first, above our own and above the insurance company’s. Our work is a ministry of justice, focused on ensuring you receive a full and fair settlement to restore what was lost.

• Analogy: Your Partner in the Field. We are like a fellow farmer you've hired to help you through a tough harvest. We stand in the field with you, not to count the losses for the grain company, but to help you find and recover every last grain that is rightfully yours.

  
  

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More Powerful Ways to Understand Our Role

To truly appreciate the unique role of a Public Adjuster, consider these additional comparisons:

• Your Personal Nanny vs. The Daycare Worker. You hire a nanny to work exclusively for your family. They get to know your family's unique needs, and they advocate for your child's well-being in every situation. Their sole loyalty is to your family. This is a stark contrast to the daycare worker who is employed to manage many children at once and is ultimately loyal to the daycare's policies and bottom line.
  

• Your Personal CPA vs. The Corporate Accountant. You hire a CPA to work exclusively for you. They meticulously review all your financial documents, identify every potential benefit, and advocate for you with the IRS. Their sole loyalty is to your financial well-being. This is a very different relationship than the one you have with a corporate accountant who manages a company's books and is ultimately loyal to the company's financial interests.
  

• Your Personal Family Doctor vs. The Clinic Administrator. Your family doctor's sole loyalty is to you, the patient. They advocate for the best possible care and ensure you have everything you need for a full recovery. This is a profound contrast to the clinic administrator who, while providing care, is ultimately loyal to the clinic's budget and operational efficiency.
  

Conclusion

In a time of loss, you deserve a partner who is truly on your side. The primary difference between a Staff Adjuster, an Independent Adjuster, and a Public Adjuster is a simple, yet profound, matter of loyalty. While the others are loyal to the insurance company, the Public Adjuster's sole purpose is to serve you.

This commitment to advocacy isn't just a matter of principle; it has a significant impact on your financial recovery. According to the Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (GAPIA), claimants who hire a Public Adjuster receive substantially more on their insurance claim than those who try to go it alone.

Only the Public Adjuster is there to stand with you. We are the advocate you hire when you need one most, guided by the profound truth that People Are For Caring.

many hands make quick work