How The Claims Process Works
Filing an insurance claim is an involved and time-consuming process with little room for error. Many decisions determine the outcome of your insurance claim and your ability to fully recover. With thousands of dollars at stake, the emotional period following a disaster is not the time to learn a complicated process in which the smallest error can cost you.
The claims adjusters at ALL RISK Public Adjusters have been through the insurance claims process countless times. This experience enables us to both expedite the process and get you the insurance settlement you are due. We anticipate the insurance company’s needs and hold them accountable for your insurance claim. Here is what you can expect during the insurance claims process when you work with ALL RISK Public Adjusters:
The claims adjusters at ALL RISK Public Adjusters have been through the insurance claims process countless times. This experience enables us to both expedite the process and get you the insurance settlement you are due. We anticipate the insurance company’s needs and hold them accountable for your insurance claim. Here is what you can expect during the insurance claims process when you work with ALL RISK Public Adjusters:
Step 1: Initial contact
Begin the process by calling us at (215) 752-0240, emailing us or completing our Contact Form. We will answer your questions and address your concerns based on the information you can provide about your loss and insurance coverage. We will also schedule an initial inspection.
Step 2: Initial inspection
We meet with you to review your loss and insurance policy. This information will guide us in creating a strategy for your recovery. At this time we also discuss our fees and determine a payment structure. We usually work on a commission basis, which is similar to what you would expect when hiring a lawyer. Because we don’t get paid until you do, you can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to get you a fair settlement as quickly as possible.
Step 3: Appoint ALL RISK Public Adjusters as your public adjuster
In order to represent you and file an insurance claim on your behalf, ALL RISK Public Adjusters must be appointed as your public adjuster. If you choose to work with us, we will have you sign an authorization form that gives us permission to notify your insurance company of the claim and negotiate on your behalf.
Step 4: Investigation
We begin the investigation of your insurance claim with a detailed review of the policy provisions and stipulations related to your loss. This allows us to determine applicable coverage, limits and exclusions. However, it is not unusual for insurance policies to differ from current state laws. Therefore, we also analyze a variety of other resources to help maximize your claim, such as local laws and ordinances pertaining to construction. We also look at decisions from the Insurance Commissioner’s office, industry articles and recent court cases to determine whether current adjusting practices and procedures differ from your policy.
Step 5: Documentation of your insurance claim
Every insurance policy includes a provision titled, “Your Duties After a Loss.” In order to document and file an insurance claim, the insured is required to fulfill these duties. ALL RISK Public Adjusters helps you meet these requirements by creating a profile of your property that conveys its value and conforms to your insurance policy. This profile includes:
- If needed, detailed construction estimates with supporting engineering documents
- Detailed and verified inventory and content schedules with valuation and supporting documentation
- Required technical and supporting documentation for positions taken in the claim
- For businesses, in-depth business interruption coverage analysis, including projections and forecasts
Step 6: Presentation of the insurance claim
After documenting your insurance claim, we prepare a schedule of losses that is reviewed by our staff. The insurance claim is then separated into the appropriate policy categories. We meet with you to go over the claim in detail and answer any questions you have. Following your approval, we submit the claim to the insurance company.
Step 7: Negotiations and settlement
The final phase of the claims process may include clarification requests from the insurance company and negotiations. ALL RISK Public Adjusters minimizes your involvement with these requests while justifying the value and legitimacy of your claim. We also expedite the process as much as possible, initiating status updates and keeping you informed of all negotiations. An insurance claim is only settled when we have your approval.
