How Does Claim Representation Work?

The Claims Representation Process: What It Is and How It Works 

A loss to your commercial or residential property creates an unfamiliar environment and places an  undue strain on your time. Thousands, if not millions, of money are at stake, and decisions must be  made fast and with little room for error. Early on, it must be decided if this process will be handled by  the insured or whether professional assistance from a public adjuster would be required. It has been  proved time and time again that dealing in an unknown field can result in a loss of both time and  money. 

Large or little, commercial or residential, correctly resolving a claim necessitates following a defined  process that, if followed, will ensure that it is completed properly and that your insurance provider  honors and pays your claim. The following are the key services that an adjuster will provide for you: 

∙ Examine your insurance to make sure you're getting the most out of it. 

∙ With our computerized system, inspect the property damage and quantify all damages. ∙ Notify your insurance company of your loss and make sure they have all of the necessary  paperwork. 

∙ Make all appointments with insurance company personnel and provide them with preliminary  estimates for building and contents damage, as well as accounting figures for business losses. ∙ Negotiate a reasonable and equitable settlement with the insurance company. ∙ Prepare all necessary paperwork in order to get payment. 

∙ If reconstruction is required, provide a list of reputable professionals. 

∙ The explanation below goes into greater detail about Tutwiler & Associates' process and what  to expect when dealing with a property damage insurance claim. 

Initial Contact — this is the first stage. We will answer as soon as possible, whether you contact us by  phone at 1.866.281.9353, email, or our free Claims Evaluation Form. The more information you give  us, the better we'll be able to respond to your issues and problems. Following our assessment of your  information, we will contact you to answer any follow-up questions and set up an appointment to  check your damage. We should arrange for you to be present for the initial inspection. We'll go over  your insurance policy during the meeting so we know what coverages we have to work with. It's vital  to have a plan in place that takes into account the loss and the coverages. For instance, do you have  enough insurance limits to engage a restoration business, or are things and building components  damaged to the point where paying for the loss will exhaust your policy limits? Following a loss, there  are a lot of decisions to be made. These choices will have a significant impact on the result of your claim and the amount of money you get. Our first contact with you, as well as the steps we recommend  depending on the facts of your loss and your insurance coverage, will be crucial to your recovery. 

We hope that after the initial session, you will see how important it is to have a specialist on your side.  You must appoint Tutwiler & Associates as your public adjuster in order for us to act as your agent and  file your claim. As a result, we'll ask you to sign a form authorizing us to notify your insurance company.  Our professional pricing structure will be discussed with you and will be based on your needs and  coverages, as well as what we are able to negotiate for you. That means we're driven to do everything  we can to ensure you're fairly compensated in your insurance settlements, taking into account your  coverage and policy limits. Fees typically range from 5% to 20% and are greatly depending on the type  of claim, the size of the claim, and the circumstances of the loss, allowing us to estimate how long a  claim will take. When a disaster is declared in Florida (such as after a hurricane), Public Adjuster costs  are limited to 10% under state law. We take pride in making sure that all fees and associated charges  are clear up front so that there are no surprises. 

Stage 2: Research and Analysis - The investigation of your policy provisions and restrictions as they  pertain to your loss is the first step after we become your approved public adjuster. This  comprehensive examination is intended to identify the coverage, limits, exclusions, and other forms  that may be applicable to your specific loss. An understanding of recent court cases, decisions from  the Insurance Commissioner's office, industry technical articles and opinions, and other factors that  are likely to influence your standard insurance policy are all used to map a claims strategy when  investigating and planning for the loss and damages documentation and presentation. In many cases,  we've discovered that the printed policy forms are in conflict with current insurance adjusting  practices and procedures in your area. It's important to remember that your insurance coverage is a  contract. While we do not provide legal advice, we have observed situations when, due to the nature  of insurance disputes, court judgements over the course of the year may have an impact on the  practice and procedures of adjusting property claims in your state. As a result, the law of the land  where the loss happened may differ from what is in a standard generic insurance policy. We take  pleasure in being current and compliant with all concerns affecting our profession by adhering to the  updated and current continuing education standards imposed by the state regulators where we hold  our professional licenses. 

3rd Stage: Claim Documentation – As the insured, you must comply with the "Your Duties after a Loss"  provision of your insurance policy. This can be a time-consuming and comprehensive process that  requires both time and money to complete. Your Tutwiler public adjuster will build a precise profile  of your property as your claim representative, ensuring that it reflects its genuine value and complies  with the terms of your insurance policy. This in-depth process includes: 1) detailed construction  estimates with supporting engineering documents if required; 2) detailed and verified inventory and  contents schedules with correct valuation and supporting documentation; 3) in-depth business  interruption coverage analysis with projections and forecasts; and 4) the required technical and  supporting documentation showing current industry publications and authoritative papers supporting  positions take place. 

Stage 4: The Claim is presented – A schedule of losses is developed once the full nature of the loss has  been determined and documented, and it is thoroughly reviewed by our team. The claim is then  divided into distinct categories in accordance with the various policy provisions in effect. After a  comprehensive evaluation of the documentation with the client, the property insurance claim is sent  to the insurance carrier with final approval. 

Stage 5: Settlement and Negotiations – We begin claims status follow-up on behalf of the insured after  approval and submission to accelerate the claim's processing. We also make ourselves available to respond to any claim clarification inquiries from the insurance company, which might be used as a  stalling tactic. It's common for there to be some dispute over the claim, which often boils down to  proving the value and authenticity of the claim's components. The insurance company representative  should respect a well-defined position that is professionally documented. Furthermore, Tutwiler &  Associates' experience and credentials in answering inquiries should result in a reasonable settlement  of your claim. It should be noted that no claim is settled without the client's prior approval, and the  customer will be kept informed throughout the process. We are also aware of the financial  implications of a loss to your property, and we commit to work carefully to resolve your claim as  quickly as possible. We've found that one component of your claim may be settled faster than others,  and if that's the case, we'll do everything we can to get you paid without endangering the rest of your  claim.