Insurance Adjuster – What Do They Do?

An insurance adjuster has many jobs, but the main one is to find out for the policy holder what the exact compensation is going to be paid to them. Today, insurance is a very broad field with many different types of insurance with each one having their own rules, financial aspects, and specific policies. Being an insurance adjuster is a field that is in high demand. They generally will provide their services in insurance companies that are considered big property-liability. Some work in insurance agencies and banks. Their primary responsibility is to fix and finalize the amount of the claim that is to be paid to the policy holder, but some may work in the fields of car accidents, property damage, or for those that are injured in other accidents.

In insurance claims, the customer has lost their property and goods in the event of theft, accidents, fire, and more. The insurance adjuster will visit the customer who have the claim, known as the claimant. It is the adjuster’s job to get all the details of the incident. If it is an accident the adjuster will have to talk to any witnesses and consult with the police to make sure there are no doubts about who was and was not at fault. They will also examine the medical records to make sure the claim about the accident is genuine.

If there is property damage the insurance adjuster will have to inspect the property to see how much damage was done and then decide how much the company is liable for in regards to payment. They also have to check policy documents, claim forms, and see if there are any dealings that could show an attempt at fraud by the claimant. The adjuster may also be required to negotiate claim settlement and if they cannot reach a settlement with the claimant then they will move the matter to court. It is important that the negotiation that is administered by the insurance adjuster is fair to both the claimant and the company. The adjuster has to document all records, proceedings, and investigations for future reference.

To become an insurance adjuster there is no formal education but you do need to understand how insurance works and a high school diploma. Many of the states do require that you obtain a license but it will vary from state to state. If you are required to have a license you will have to take a written test and then work on small assignments under the supervision of a licensed insurance adjuster before they can work on their own.