| You filed your property insurance claim, went through | | | | which you are prepared to follow. Their policy will |
| the insurance claim recovery process, met with the | | | | usually include language explaining just how and when |
| insurance adjuster who inspected your property, and | | | | you can DemandArbitration. Know your rights, both |
| received an insurance settlement offer. You weren't | | | | as a consumer and as a party to their insurance |
| pleased? | | | | contract, regarding this avenue for settling your |
| The first thing, if there is not any "final release | | | | disputes. |
| language" on either the front or the back of their | | | | 6. Appraisal. This is a specialized form of arbitration, |
| check/draft, is for you to go ahead and cash their | | | | and you almost for sure, will need your own Public |
| check. As long as you haven't signed away your | | | | Insurance Adjuster to represent you. Your Appraiser |
| rights, the signing of the insurance company's check | | | | and their Appraiser will both have to agree on a |
| doesn't give you're your right to try to recover | | | | (tie-breaker) "Umpire", and that person's decision will |
| additional insurance money by reopening your claim. | | | | be final and binding. However the "Umpire" should only |
| However, if you disagree with your insurance | | | | be involved to resolve anything that both your |
| company, and want to take action, here are some | | | | Appraiser and their Appraiser, can't agree upon and |
| options: | | | | resolve. |
| | | | 7. Public Insurance Adjuster. Having the right Public |
| 1. Ask that everything be explained. Have their | | | | Insurance Adjuster can be your very best option. A |
| insurance representative go over the details with | | | | licensed Public Insurance Adjuster is an expert at |
| you, very carefully and fully. | | | | reopening and renegotiating a claim for additional |
| 2. Ask to review their insurance adjuster's work. | | | | money. He or she should have experience in your |
| There may have been some simple mistakes, or | | | | property claim situation; and should have a track |
| items that were overlooked. | | | | record of recovering millions of additional dollars for |
| 3. You can ask to escalate your concern to someone | | | | underpaid insurance claims. |
| higher in your insurance company's "Claim | | | | 8. Attorney. This is not legal advice, just for |
| Department". This may or may not be productive, | | | | informational purposes...You might believe that the |
| but might work in your favor. | | | | last course of action would be to hire an attorney. |
| 4. Discuss your issue with your State's Department | | | | However, a PublicInsurance Adjuster usually has more |
| of Insurance - just remember that they are not a | | | | experience than almost all attorneys in resolving |
| consumer protection agency, only a licensing agency. | | | | insured Property Insurance claims. And actually, |
| 5. Arbitration. You maybe should consider to Demand | | | | attorney's often hire Public Insurance Adjusters when |
| Arbitration over your dispute(s) of your claim. | | | | a client brings them a property insurance settlement |
| Arbitration can be binding or non-binding; so know | | | | matter. |