If you have an insurance claim that requires assistance by a public adjuster Chicago is home to numerous great, knowledgeable and reliable independent experts – here are a few pieces of advice about when to seek help from a public adjuster and some tips about how to find them.
How Can a Public Adjuster Help You
Public adjusters can efficiently help you in any phase of your claims process, not only if you consider the offer made by the insurer unacceptable or if the processing of your claims seems to be dragging on infinitely. Public adjusters are ready to handle all tasks related to the claims process, from paperwork to making an inventory of the damage claimed and to the negotiations with the insurer’s own adjuster. By hiring a public adjuster, Chicago claimants can have the peace of mind that they have an experienced insurance expert acting on their behalf and representing their best interest during the entire claims process.
It is also important to note that you will not have to pay your public adjuster anything upfront – public adjusters work for a commission determined by the state as a percentage of the amount you receive in compensation, so it is in their best interest to reach the most favorable and quickest settlement for you.
How to Find a Public Adjuster
You can start looking for a good public adjuster by seeking word-of-mouth advice from people you know or by carrying out some research online. There are numerous valuable online resources available, such as the website of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters – the organization uses a very thorough evaluation process before admitting members, one of the requirements being experience of at least two years in the insurance business, so the adjusters you find in the website’s data base are surely among the best. The insurance department of the state of Illinois also provides adjuster-related information such as complaints filed by previous clients.
When you have a list of at least four or five adjusters, start contacting them in person. Tell them about your case, about the phase it is currently in and ask questions, too. Find out as much as you can about the adjusters’ length of experience, about their qualifications and their references and also ask them to describe the procedure and the strategy they plan to adopt while handling your case. Request a ballpark 
figure about the claim amount you can file for and also find out about the estimated duration of the process.
Insurance claims processes usually require claimants to act fast, but even so, don’t allow anyone to rush you into decisions and always take your time to evaluate the information you were provided. Don’t underestimate the importance of personal impressions either – if you feel that you cannot work with an adjuster, despite his or her impeccable track record and excellent references and qualifications, move on to the next candidate on your list.
Before hiring an adjuster, make sure your find out exactly how much it will cost you. Public adjusters work on a contingency bases, the percentage of the compensation being determined by the state in a from-to range, which also gives you space for negotiations regarding the adjuster’s commission.