WE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE UNDERPAID CLAIMS

 CLAIM SUPPLEMENT

A supplement is any additional costs submitted to the insurance company for extra repairs, code requirements or replacement expenses for previously filed claims. Supplements are common in the claims procedure; if you are a policyholder uninformed of your policy rights, you might be strolling away from thousands of dollars that you are entitled to gather.

We submit an increased estimate to include all supplemental items and state code requirements and we negotiate the claim for increased amounts. We work on contingency only and receive compensation when the claim is paid over and above the deductible or prior insurance payment, whichever is higher. If we can’t get additional recovery, there is no fee.

 

HOW A PUBLIC ADJUSTER HELPS

The field, desk and supervising insurance adjusters do not always complete full investigations of your property.

We take our time doing a proper investigation and look for common mistakes insurance adjusters overlook or their company guidelines undervalue.

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UNDERPAID CLAIMS PROCESS

This is a general claims procedure for underpaid claims called supplementation. A supplement is any additional costs submitted to the insurance company for extra repairs, code requirements or replacement expenses for previously filed claims.

These are typically handled differently than denied claims because coverage has been triggered unlike denied claims. We will work to negotiate the difference in the scope of recovery with our supplemental estimate. It is common for repairs, particularly to roofs, to turn into a full replacement with supplementation. 

  1. With a completed inspection, analysis and signed Letter of Representation we request the Determination Letter, estimate and any relevant documentation/reports from the insurance company. (What is a Letter of Representation?)

  2. We organize our photos into a detailed visual report of damages and draft a supplemental estimate for recovery. With our help, the policyholder will complete a notarized Proof of Loss and submit all documents (What is a Proof of Loss?)

  3. In many instances, we are able to resolve the differences in our estimates without requesting further investigation since there is no coverage dispute; we simply negotiate the supplemental amount. However, either we, or the insurance company, may request a reinspection of the property with our licensed Public Adjuster present. Once the insurance company completes their review they will either negotiate the claim settlement or notify us of their stance.

  4. We, or the insurance company, may request appraisal or mediation for your claim. Appraisal is a binding contractual process available to settle valuation disputes between policyholders and their insurance companies when they fail to agree on the amount of loss or scope of damages. The key to a successful appraisal is hiring an expert who knows the ins and outs of the process. Mediation is a non-binding process where a neutral third party acts to encourage and assist in the resolution of a dispute without dictating the outcome. The insurance company and us may or may not receive a resolution in mediation.

  5. In many cases the insurance company may be found acting in bad faith. It is not uncommon for policyholders to use an attorney with their homeowners or commercial claim. An attorney may assist in filing a Civil Remedy Notice or Lawsuit among other documents (What is a Civil Remedy Notice?). If escalated to lawsuit, the attorney may use our estimate and detailed report in the litigation process along with other licensed professionals, such as, engineers, estimators, appraisers, etc. The Public Adjuster could be requested for deposition to discuss your claim to the opposing counsel so it is imperative to have a bonded and licensed Public Adjuster who knows what they are doing.

  6. Regardless of the direction of the claim, our firm will continue to represent the claim to completion. We work on contingency only and receive compensation when the claim is paid over and above the deductible or prior insurance payment, whichever is higher. If we can’t get additional recovery there is no fee. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP or CONTACT US FOR A FREE INSPECTION

Public adjusters cannot offer legal advice; any legal questions should be discussed with a licensed attorney.