TO SUPPORT THOSE OF YOU NOW TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH INSURANCE CLAIMS AND RELATED ISSUES AND OBSTACLES, WE RECOMMEND YOU VISIT THE WEBSITE OF UNITED POLICYHOLDERS. Visit UPHelp.org.
Get professional help if and when you need it – check references and licenses carefully
You may decide you want to hire professional help to take over the time-consuming details of documenting a major or total loss and negotiating on your behalf with the insurer to recover your full-contents benefits.
Dealing with a large insurance claim on top of the emotional upset from a catastrophic loss is a lot to handle. Many people, particularly working and single parents and disabled or elderly claimants find they are unable to put in the time and effort it takes to settle a total loss claim. Others feel the deck is too stacked against them and want to even the odds of getting a fair settlement by bringing in professional help.
Whatever your reasons are, if you decide to get help, make sure you hire a reputable professional whose license is in good standing and whose references check out. Do not hire any professional to represent you in negotiating a settlement with your insurance company unless you have personally talked to AT LEAST TWO, preferably THREE or more PRIOR CLIENTS who were satisfied with how the professional handed their insurance claim.
There are two types of professionals who can help you get a fair settlement of a large contents claim: Public Adjusters and Attorneys who have hands-on insurance claim experience. There are also “independent” adjusters but in most states they work only for insurance companies who need extra adjusting staff — not policyholders.