# Public Adjuster vs Insurance Company Adjuster Understand the difference between a public adjuster who works for you and an insurance company adjuster who works for the insurer, and why that distinction matters for your claim. Updated 2026-10-10. Also on the [web page](https://publicadjusters.fyi/guides/public-adjuster-vs-insurance-company-adjuster). # Public Adjuster vs Insurance Company Adjuster When you file a property insurance claim, two kinds of adjuster may become involved. They have similar job titles but entirely different employers, loyalties, and incentives. Knowing the difference is essential to getting a fair settlement. ## Insurance company adjuster (staff or independent) The insurance company adjuster — sometimes called a staff adjuster or an independent adjuster hired by the insurer — represents the insurance company. Their job is to inspect the damage, estimate the cost of repairs, and settle the claim within the policy terms — fairly, but with the insurer's interests in view rather than yours. Key points about the insurer's adjuster: - They are paid by and take instructions from the insurance company - Their workload and employer sit with the insurer, and the insurer must still handle your claim fairly and in good faith under the policy and state law - They have no fiduciary duty to you. Their duty is to the insurer under the terms of the policy - They may be an employee of the insurer or a third-party contractor the insurer hires to manage its caseload - Their estimate is the starting point for negotiation, not a final determination of what you are owed This does not mean the insurer's adjuster is dishonest. Most are experienced professionals who work within policy language. But their incentives are structurally aligned with the company that pays them, and a claim that is honestly undervalued by the insurer's own adjuster is still a loss to you. ## Public adjuster A public adjuster is a licensed professional you hire to represent your interests. They assess the same damage, review the same policy, and produce their own estimate of the loss. They then negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Key points about public adjusters: - They are licensed and regulated by the state insurance department - They owe a fiduciary duty to you, meaning they must put your interests ahead of their own - They are typically paid on a contingency basis — a percentage of the final settlement — which means they only get paid when you do - They handle the entire claims process: documenting damage, filing paperwork, negotiating, and managing appraisals or mediation - They can challenge the insurer's scope of damage, replacement cost calculations, and application of policy exclusions ## Why the distinction matters The two adjusters see the same physical damage but often arrive at different numbers. The insurer's adjuster may scope the minimum repair needed to restore function. The public adjuster may scope the full repair needed to return the property to its pre-loss condition, including hidden damage the insurer's adjuster missed or did not document. Common areas where estimates diverge: - The number of wall or ceiling sections that need replacing versus patching - Whether finish materials like hardwood floors can be matched or must be fully replaced - The cost of code upgrades required during repairs - The value of contents, particularly items without clear receipts - The length and cost of additional living expenses during the repair period A public adjuster is not always needed. If the insurer's adjuster produces a thorough estimate that covers all visible and likely hidden damage and the settlement offer matches contractor bids, there may be no gap to close. ## Independent adjuster — a third category Independent adjusters are sometimes confused with public adjusters. An independent adjuster is a contractor the insurance company hires to handle its claims. Despite the name, they work for the insurer, not for you. Their independence refers to their employment status — they are not a staff employee — but their duty and incentive remain with the insurance company that pays their invoice. ## If you hire a public adjuster Both adjusters work on the same claim at the same time. The insurer's adjuster still inspects the property and produces an estimate. The public adjuster does their own inspection and produces a separate estimate. The two negotiate, and if they cannot agree on the amount of the loss, the policy's appraisal clause provides a mechanism to resolve that valuation dispute. Appraisal does not settle coverage questions — a dispute over whether the policy covers the damage at all is a separate matter. Hiring a public adjuster does not guarantee a higher settlement, but it shifts the negotiating dynamic from one unrepresented party facing a professional negotiator to two professionals negotiating on roughly equal footing. ## Questions ### Does the insurance company's adjuster work for me? No. The insurance company's adjuster is employed by or contracted by the insurer. Their duty is to evaluate your loss under the policy terms on the insurer's behalf, and insurers owe you good faith handling — but the adjuster's loyalty and paycheque sit with the insurer, not with you. ### Can I have both a public adjuster and an insurance company adjuster on my claim? Yes. Both work on the same claim at the same time. The insurance company adjuster represents the insurer, and the public adjuster represents you, reviewing the same damage from separate perspectives. ### Will hiring a public adjuster delay my claim? It can, especially if the public adjuster and the insurance company adjuster disagree on scope or value. However, the public adjuster's involvement can also speed things up by submitting a complete, accurate claim that reduces back-and-forth.