Public appraisers represent the insured, while independent and personal adjusters represent the insurer. More than 30 states require the licensing of one or more of these types of adjusters. The first type of Florida adjuster is the one that, as an insurance policy holder, you probably know best. This is the staff adjuster who works for your insurance company.
Your insurance company will send its staff to examine the damage to your home or commercial property once you file an insurance claim. While most personnel adjusters are licensed by the state of Florida, their first obligation is to the insurance company and its shareholders. A personnel adjuster's job is to save the insurance company as much money as possible. They will always offer you a settlement for your insurance claim that is lower than it could be, or they will even flatly deny it.
It's important to understand the differences between the types of insurance adjusters and the role each one plays in adjusting claims, especially when it comes to seeking bonds from public and independent appraisers. You independently hire a Florida public appraiser to file and process your insurance claim, whether for damage you have suffered to your residence or to your commercial property. However, since this adjuster works for the insurance company, many claimants prefer to hire a public appraiser to work on their own. Many appraisers work for insurance companies, but public appraisers work on the other side, investigating and negotiating on behalf of plaintiffs.
If the adjuster is unwilling or unable to pay, the plaintiff can then file a claim against the adjuster's bond. As you can see, the best thing to do when you have to file an insurance claim in Florida is to hire a public appraiser. Independent appraisers are generally hired by an external claims management company, or an “independent appraisal firm”.
