Having worked as a company insurance adjuster for 29 years I witnessed the inability of residential and commercial property owners to understand insurance coverages and the property damage claim process. I have reviewed other adjusters work product during my years of experience to know adjusters are often wrong on their initial assessment of a property claim. In some instances, claim denials have been reversed based on facts not previously known or the wrong application of a policy exclusion.  When I left the company side of the insurance business, I felt the desire to become a public adjuster because there is a tremendous need for someone with experience and the knowledge to work on behalf of the policyholder. 

Insurance policies are standard forms that list areas of coverage for property damage caused by perils insured against.  Policies also contains special limits of coverage and exclusions within the policy that limit or totally exclude coverage for specific perils.  Policy endorsements are added to a policy that change the coverage of the standard form by either adding coverage or excluding coverage.  Trained adjusters are educated on the policy language and how the policy contract is applied to property damage claims while policyholders are not trained in policy analysis or the claim process.  To further illustrate the complexity of claim handling, there are many scenarios that are not specifically stated in the policy language that require an understanding of how insurance companies extend or deny coverage.  Insurance companies have internal claim handling practices that provide guidance to company adjusters on how to handle different scenarios. Without claims knowledge and experience, policyholders are at a disadvantage that could result in the loss of time, money, or having their claim denied.

The insurance company is contractually obligated to indemnify the policyholder for a covered loss.  We all know people who have their own personal story of how policyholders didn’t receive enough money to repair or replace their damaged property. Property and Casualty Insurance is complicated, and it is my goal to provide my experience and knowledge of claim handling to benefit the policyholder.    

Paul Harling
President, Resolution Claim Services LLC