Q: What is a Public Adjuster?
A: Public Adjusters are extensively trained on property loss estimating and assisting in documenting, negotiating and settling insurance claims. Our Public Adjusters will take care of your claim from beginning to end. They will work closely with you in insure that the insurance company provides you with the most reasonable and prompt settlement
Public Adjusters are not attorneys and can only represent you with regard to your first party insurance claim. They cannot represent you in court nor can they represent you if you have a claim against a third party.

Q: Why do I need a Public Adjuster?
A: As experts in policy and insurance a Public Adjust works to get the compensation you deserve in order to fix your loss. While the insurance company is not always on your side and does not hold out for your best interest, All American Public Adjuster is always on your side.

Q: What is the cost to retain a Public Adjuster?
A: Public Adjusters will establish a percentage charge of the net settlement of the claim. This will be established at the start of your claim process. Once the claim is settled, the customer will receive payment of the entitled compensation and will be responsible for remittance to the Public Adjuster. If All America Public Adjuster, Inc. does not succeed in collecting a settlement, YOU ARE NOT responsible for any payment.

Q: I don’t understand what a Public Adjuster can do for me that I can’t do myself.
A: The insurance policy is a contract agreed upon at time of purchase. You as the policyholder and your insurance company as the insurer are held to very specific obligations. The most crucial fact of the policy, is that in order to get your insurance company to pay for your losses, you have to prove your claim to them. While many try to do this process themselves, they quickly come to realize that it is impossible for them to get the results that a trained professional will be able to achieve. In order to achieve the desire results you will have to become an overnight expert in pricing of everything from loss of use income to depreciation and of course become a will have to become a wiz at organizational and negotiating skills that are developed only from years of training. Often you forget how little time you actually have, when filling your claim without a Public Adjuster often this will become your full-time job for months and even years. When hiring All American Public Adjusters, Inc we will make sure that the process is smooth and proceeds as quickly as possible so your life is not affected further.

Q: The insurance company’s adjuster seems very knowledgeable about the claims process. Why should I be concerned about him misleading me?
A: In most cases the insurance company’s adjuster is knowledgeable, after all this is his job. But just like in divorce you wouldn’t use your ex’s attorney, why would you use your insurance companies adjuster? The expectation is that you are already aware and know how to do what is required to convince them and there employer that they ought to pay you for what you are claiming you have lost. You must bear in mind that insurance companies are for profit business and they must worry about the bottom line at all times, because of this there goal is not to fix your loss but to not pay out more then the bare minimum on the claims they receive.

Do not hesitate call All American Public Adjusters, Inc, our trained and experienced professionals are here to represent and guide you through the intricacies of documenting, presenting, and negotiating with your insurance companies. They will help you receive what you deserve for your loss, based in the maximum mount your coverage entitles you to.

Q. I still don’t see why I need a Public Adjuster – I already have an Independent Adjuster working on my claim.
A: Just as the claim process is confusing, understanding the types of adjusters maybe difficult. The word “independent” means that the licensed adjuster is able to represent more then one insurance company. Although his is “independent” he does represent the company and not the policyholder. His income or commissions are paid by the company that is represented and that is where his loyalty will always be. A Public Adjuster on the other hand has been licensed to represent individuals who have purchased a policy from an insurance company. As a consumer you are part of the public and therefore the only type of adjuster who can represent your needs is one who has the word “PUBLIC” in their title.

Q. How is a Public Adjuster paid, and how much?
A: A Public Adjusters fee in all cases is a percentage of the total amount you receive for a claim. All American Public Adjusters is not paid anything until you have been paid. Please note that in many cases we are able to help you use your policy’s benefits in such a way that it will help to more then make up for the fee.

Q. Do Public Adjusters have to be licensed or certified?
A: The majority of states do require Public Adjusters to be licensed and bonded by each state’s Department of Insurance. All American Public Adjusters, Inc is licensed in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennesee, Illinios, New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado. If your state is not listed don’t worry we can still help.

Q: My policy says I’m supposed to make some temporary repairs to protect my damaged property. How do I know what to repair now and what to wait till later to repair?
A: All American Public Adjusters, Inc will help you make these important decisions, as this is included in the many service we currently provide for our clients. Our general advice, after a loss it that you should protect your property as if you do not have insurance. Our knowledge in this area will definitely help to ensure you collect for all damages. Call All American Public Adjuster right away so we can help you from the beginning of the process.

Q: We have a lot of building contractors and cleaning/restoration companies knocking on our door, wanting to do our work and help us file out insurance claim. Why should I hire a Public Adjuster to do this for us, instead?
A: Many policyholders have developed confusion from this fairly recent development. Salesman and building contractors have begun presenting themselves a being qualified to help you with the intricacies of your insurance policy as well as claiming to have expertise in helping you to get the insurance company to pay for your repairs and cleanup. In reality, in most cases, these people are not licensed in any state to act as a claim adjusters, nor do they possess the necessary training. Often they are treading on the fine line with separates adjusters from builders, that is imposed by ethics. Contacting All American Public Adjusters ensures that you have a licensed and trained representative in documenting and settling your claim. We can also help you find ethical, bonded contractors to complete your repairs.

Q: Isn’t it a good idea to go ahead and get everything cleaned now by a professional restoration service instead of waiting until I have settled my claim?
A: Absolutely not! As a policyholder this is probably the single biggest mistake you can make.The reason for this is once the process had begun, the cleaning bill reduces the amount of coverage you have left to replace what has been destroyer or damaged in your loss. Although it s a well intentioned mistake it clearly illustrates why policyholders like yourself are in need of a Public Adjusters on there side. To avoid costly mistakes like this, call All American public Adjusters, Inc and speak to one of our trained professionals.

Q: Who decides if an item needs to be repaired or replaced? My insurance company and I are disagreeing on just about everything.
A: The policy, which is a contract between you and the insurance company has terms that require you to prove your loss. As your representative, All American Public Adjusters, Inc will work to justify your claim by documenting, and negotiate with the insurance company’s representative on your behalf in order to get them to agree with our decisions on these issues. If no agreement can be agreed upon by you and the insurance company, the Appraisal Claus of your policy may be on option considered. Please see the Appraisal Clause Section of this website, for more information on this option.

FAQs FOR HOMEOWNERS

Q: We currently cannot stay at our house and are living in temporary quarters; due to this we must drive our children to school every day. This leads to us incurring bills we normally would not have. What can a Public Adjuster do to help cover this additional expense by the insurance company?
Q: Since the loss occurred we have been staying in a motel, now we realize that the house will not be ready for several months. As a Public Adjuster help us get relocated to a house?
A: As a homeowner you may not be aware of the very helpful “Additional Living Expenses” (ALE) provision of their insurance policy. This provides a way for someone who has suffered a loss to be able to continue living life as comfortable as possible until the home is inhabitable again. At all American Public Adjusters we are experienced in helping our clients receive the full benefits from this coverage. In the past we have been successful in negotiating with your insurance company to get them to advance money for you to be able to survive while your claim is being settled. Call All American Public Adjusters, Inc now to find out how we can help you stay afloat during this rough time.

Q: My husband and I cannot remember everything we had stored in our basement. How can a Public Adjuster help me?
Q: All my records necessary to prove my claim were destroyed in the fire. Can a Public Adjuster help me reconstruct inventory of the contents lost?
A: All American Public Adjusters, Inc is extremely experienced in these types of very real scenarios. With our help we will be able to reconstruct an inventory of your contents. We are aware of the sorts of questions to ask, and are able to re-document the prices of items for which you no longer have receipts. We are also familiar with what the insurance company’s adjusters objections. Therefore we are able to make sure your claim is completed properly.

FAQs for Business Owners

Q: With my store being closed for over a month, I am losing money. How can a Public Adjuster help me?
Q: Since the flood we have not been able to use the east side of the hotel, without the normal income of a full hotel we are unable to make ends meet. Can a Public Adjuster help me some money sooner?
Q: Since my tenants have had to move out of my rental property, there is no income coming in and i am unable to stay afloat for much longer. Can a public adjuster help me?
A: As a business owner, cash flow problems are among one of the most severe consequences when dealing with a settlement of a large property- loss claim. This is another way that the expertise All American Public Adjusters, Inc has can help you. Quite often wear able to negotiate with the insurance company to advance money to deal with the most important needs.

Q: My employees and I have attempted to remember everything that was in the storage rooms through the facility. How can a Public Adjuster help me with this?
Q: The fire destroyed all of my records necessary to prove my claim. Can a Public Adjusters help me reconstruct the inventory?
Q: I’ve asked my employees to help, but we are all having trouble remembering what all we had stored in our storage rooms throughout our facility. How could a Public Adjuster possibly be able to help me with this problem?
A: All American Public Adjusters can help you with this problem by reconstructing and inventory of your damaged or lost contents. We are knowledgeable in the right questions to ask and how to re-document the prices of items for which you no longer have receipts for. We are able to anticipate the problem and therefore making the process quicker and easier.

Q. In our factory we have unique equipment. How can I convince my insurance company’s adjusters of how much it will cost to replace the expensive machinery?
A: As with any policy the contract is between you and your insurance company and requires you to prove your loss. All American Public Adjusters, Inc experts will document your loss as proof for your claim and will negotiate in order to get them to agree with our estimates.

Dealing with Mold and Mildew in Your Flood Damaged Home

After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings.

Be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family, if your home has water damage due to:

• Flooding,
• Sewage back-up,
• Plumbing or roof leaks,
• Damp basements or crawl space,
• Overflows from sinks or bathtub, or
• High humidity: steam cooking, dryer vents, humidifiers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website contains information on mold cleanup and remediation in homes, schools and other large commercial buildings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website includes general background information about mold health hazards and mold safety recommendations.

Of all the things there are to worry about, earthquakes are fairly low on the list for those on the East Coast. So it was startling, just as the lunch hour was ending Tuesday and workers in a broad area of North America were settling back into their cubicles, when floors began to shake and chairs rocked.

In Clemson, S.C., water sloshed in glasses. In Washington, chandeliers swayed in the Capitol. And in the tiny town of Mineral, Va., china cabinets exploded.

An unusual earthquake centered near Mineral startled millions of people from Maine to Georgia on Tuesday. In the end there were few reports of serious damage, with more rattling of nerves than of property.

But the tremors disrupted life in some of the nation’s biggest population centers. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from office buildings. The quake strangled cellphone service, interfered with air traffic, halted trains, jammed roadways and gave some on the West Coast an opportunity to poke fun at Easterners who seemed panicked and uncertain of how to respond. In earthquake-prone areas, people usually are instructed to stay inside to avoid falling debris, but in a post-Sept. 11 world, few argued with evacuation commands.

The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck at 1:51 p.m. It preliminarily measured 5.8 and lasted 20 to 30 seconds. Survey officials reported two small aftershocks, of magnitude 2.8 and 2.2, within 90 minutes of the original jolt. Seismologists, suggesting little cause for further alarm, said the initial quake erupted from an old fault, which, unlike the San Andreas fault in California, normally produces much weaker quakes.

This quake was notable for its incongruity: it was one of the most powerful to hit the East Coast in decades, and yet it caused little damage. Reports of tremors came from as far north as Sudbury, Ontario, where government offices were closed, and as far south as Alabama.

Thousands of people in Midtown Manhattan were evacuated from their offices and found themselves suddenly sprung on a sunny summer afternoon. Farther downtown, police officers ordered the evacuation of City Hall, sending Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and his staff scurrying out of the building.

But for all the disruptions and the fleeing of buildings, the quake was, for most people, a curious interruption before life quickly returned to normal, providing fodder that lighted up social media sites. “Felt a litle wobble here is Astoria, but none of my Scotch fell off the shelf,” a man who identified himself as William Schroeder posted on an Nytimes.com message board.

Others were more shaken. “I ran outdoors and found my neighbor calling a friend in Virginia who also felt the profound quake,” Bill Parks of Hummelstown, Pa., said in an e-mail. “This quake was like none I ever experienced in the East in my life and I am 76 years old.”

In Washington, the quake led to the quick evacuations of the White House, the Capitol and monuments across the Mall. Air-control towers across the region were evacuated, putting some planes in a temporary hold pattern and diverting some to Boston. Amtrak stopped its trains. The Federal Emergency Management Administration asked the public to refrain from talking on cellphones and to use e-mail and text messages instead in an effort to relieve the congestion.

The epicenter in Mineral is about 84 miles southwest of Washington, and a few miles from a nuclear power plant. Dominion Virginia Power, which owns the plant, said that its units tripped off line automatically as planned and that no damage to the plant had been reported.

Perhaps the most trauma occurred in Mineral itself. The quake stopped everything for hours. Schools closed. Coffee shops shut down. At the Food Lion, on the outskirts of town, managers shooed reporters away but not before one employee said: “The whole floor was going up and down. It was crazy in there.”

Ben Pirolli, 68, who co-owns Main Street Plumbing and Electrical, said he was in the bathroom when the quake hit.

“I was mopping the floor and the next thing you know, everything is falling in on me,” Mr. Pirolli said. “I thought the world was coming to an end.”

Geologists said that the region had frequent earthquakes but that they were usually so small that they were hardly noticed. This one was 3.7 miles deep, bigger than is typical, and produced a rumbling that grabbed the attention of millions of people hundreds of miles away from the epicenter.