| The approval or denial of your claim rarely has little to | | | | request a second inspection for storm damage. I had |
| do with the amount or lack there of damage to your | | | | worked with this one particular adjuster many times |
| home. | | | | who explained the rationale behind this odd request. |
| There has been an increase in complaints to the | | | | He explained that insurance companies have insurance |
| Better Business Bureau for many insurance | | | | on their insurance policies. The insurance company will |
| companies have been denying residential claims for | | | | often times tell the independent adjuster to deny all |
| storm damage. You may be curious to know that a | | | | claims for they are out of money for the quarter. |
| large portion of insurance companies have outsourced | | | | The adjuster explained that when the money |
| their claims department. This gives the insurance | | | | became available for the next quarter they would be |
| company a buffer between you and them. Your | | | | allowed to approve the claim. In a nutshell, your |
| agent will often apologize for the denial of your claim | | | | insurance provider is waiting for the secondary |
| and express remorse. They will explain that the | | | | insurance company to reimburse them for your claim |
| independent adjuster is the person who has the | | | | prior to approval. |
| power to refuse or validate your claim for storm | | | | If weather conditions are bad in your area, this could |
| damage. | | | | hurt your chance of getting your claim approved. This |
| Let us evaluate the top 5 reasons why residential | | | | may seem odd, but independent adjusters have a |
| claims for storm damage get denied. | | | | certain amount of time to complete the claims they |
| The independent company has the responsibility for | | | | receive from the insurance company no matter how |
| inspecting all residential claims for storm damage. | | | | bad the weather. As you can see, if the adjuster |
| They have the power to approve or deny your | | | | gets behind in his reports the only way he can get |
| insurance claim. However, the independent company | | | | caught up is by denying a few claims to off set the |
| receives their orders from the insurance company. I | | | | days of bad weather. He may be inclined to tell you |
| find this a conflict of interest for the independent | | | | or your contractor to resubmit for a second |
| adjuster has to consider the ramifications if to many | | | | inspection. This makes no sense for it is an |
| claims are approved. I have met with many adjusters | | | | inconvenience to the homeowner as well as a waste |
| who have told me that if they approve more than | | | | of time. The insurance companies are concerned with |
| 70% of the claims that their annual contract would | | | | keeping their double A plus ratings with the review |
| not be renewed by the insurance company. | | | | board. If the weather is bad in your area, do not be |
| The adjuster is the person who evaluates the | | | | surprised if your claim gets denied. |
| property for damage. He or she may be very | | | | Most insurance adjusters are from out of town. They |
| experienced in residential construction or they may | | | | travel from state to state following the storms. You |
| have none at all. It is hit or miss with the adjuster | | | | will have a better chance of getting your claim |
| you get to process your claim for storm damage. | | | | approved if you file shortly after the storm. The |
| The inspection for damage is very subjective to say | | | | adjusters know that if they approve a claim that |
| the least. I have seen homes torn to shreds with hail | | | | they will be responsible for the loss report statement |
| damage and the adjuster would deny the claim as | | | | until all repairs are completed. Basically, if the roof |
| mechanical damage. Mechanical damage is a term | | | | was measured to be 3900 square feet and there |
| used for pop nails or it could be for poor | | | | was a discrepancy about the size of the roof |
| craftsmanship. The inspection is purely subjective on | | | | structure, then the adjuster is required to come back |
| the part of the independent adjuster. On the other | | | | to the property and remeasure the roof with the |
| hand, I have seen times when there has been | | | | roofing contractor. The adjusters are off on their |
| minimum damage and it could go either way and the | | | | measurements quite often. They measure tight to |
| adjuster would approve the entire claim. The key | | | | keep cost as low as possible for the insurance |
| factor for approval or denial is dependent upon the | | | | company. Therefore, they come back to about 60% |
| experience level of the adjuster who has the | | | | of their claims that they have approved. Toward the |
| responsibility of mitigating the claim for storm | | | | end, when request for inspections begin to decline, |
| damage. | | | | the independent adjuster will start denying claims in |
| I have had many adjusters convey to me that they | | | | an attempt to keep him from having to come back |
| were going to deny the claim, but to request a | | | | to that state to mitigate a claim. Once the |
| second inspection from the insurance company. I | | | | independent adjuster leaves the state, rarely will your |
| found it strange that an adjuster would tell me to | | | | claim be reopened for review. |