Frequently Asked Questions

You will have the advantage of expert assistance based on extensive experience in handling numerous technical problems. Your public insurance adjuster relieves you of the many time-consuming and difficult matters involved in preparing and filing a claim while receiving a prompt and fair settlement.

Absolutely, however an accredited public insurance adjuster who has years of experience and training can do so with more competence than the policyholder. Moreover, a public insurance adjuster will assist you in the preparation of inventories, estimates and other factual proofs of loss. The adjuster will handle all the necessary details for compiling and filing claims, as required by the terms of your insurance policies. Your public insurance adjuster will also confer, on your behalf, with insurance company representatives and handle all matters essential to a proper and satisfactory adjustment.

The typical fire policy contains several provisions and stipulations, various forms and riders that are constantly changing, and numerous complex details about your requirements in case of loss. Most people do not know or understand these policy provisions. In many instances, insured's do not realize that the burden of proof is on them, the policyholder. Most insurance company representatives actually prefer to work with an experienced accredited public insurance adjuster rather than an inexperienced insured.

It depends upon the type and amount of insurance you carry. It also depends on your expertise or the expertise of your representative, not that of the insurance company’s adjuster. Many insurance policies may pay more than the amount shown on the declaration page. A qualified expert working for you can determine everything to which you are entitled.

Insurance companies offer to pay what is due to you as they see it. Public insurance adjusters are your exclusive representatives. Their experience and knowledge allows them to work toward a more favorable adjustment for you, the insured.

Your public insurance adjuster assists with every phase of preparing and presenting your claim, as well as accomplishing an adjustment for you that is equitable and includes everything to which you are entitled under your insurance policy.

A public insurance adjuster will take a physical inventory, obtain all pertinent appraisals and make sure all provisions in your policy are properly fulfilled. This often involves numerous steps of which you may know little or nothing, but which can make a significant difference in the amount of the final adjustment.

A NAPIA public insurance adjuster must, in virtually all jurisdictions, be tested, licensed, bonded and authorized to practice his or her profession. All NAPIA members are required to abide by a strict code of ethics and rules of professional conduct. Furthermore, NAPIA administers a professional certification program designed to broaden the knowledge and enhance the abilities of public insurance adjusters. The program recognizes two levels of achievement.

• Certified Professional Public Adjuster (CPPA) - Must have a minimum of five years experience and pass an examination to earn certification.
• Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA) - Must have a minimum of ten years experience and also pass a rigid examination to earn a senior certification.
• Both are required to continue their professional education in order to keep up with changes in the insurance industry, so they can best serve you.
• When you deal with a NAPIA member public insurance adjuster, you can be confident that your claim is being adjusted by a fully-qualified professional.

A public insurance will always obtain a more prompt and satisfactory settlement. They lose no time in complying with the policy requirements to obtain and evaluate the facts and prepare the claim. The alert, knowledgeable and prompt service they render often preserves evidence that may otherwise be overlooked or destroyed. The more thorough and complete your claim is compiled and prepared, the faster your public insurance adjuster can accomplish an equitable and proper adjustment in your best interest.

Public insurance adjusters are the experts to turn to when such matters arise. They are concerned only with your interests. Because of their broad experience and specialized knowledge, they prepare your claim so that you can recover to the fullest extent on your insurance coverage's. It is up to you to prove your loss. There may be many questions and problems as to how the policy provisions can be applied in different circumstances.

It means that the public insurance adjuster acts according to a strict code of ethics established by NAPIA, and is an accredited member of the Association.

NAPIA stands for the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. NAPIA members are experts in the profession of public insurance adjusting who have joined together for the express purpose of professional education, certification and promotion of a rigid code of professional conduct and ethics. Copyright 1998 by the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters