What is the Difference Between a Private Claims Adjuster and a Public Adjuster?

TL;DR: The 3 Types of Insurance Adjusters & Who to Trust

• The Insurer's Team: Company Adjusters (employees) and Independent Adjusters (contractors) both work for the insurance company. Their primary goal is to protect the insurer's profits by minimizing your claim payout.

• Your Exclusive Advocate: A Public Adjuster is the ONLY type of adjuster who works exclusively for you, the policyholder. Their legal and professional duty is to maximize your settlement.

• The Key Difference is Allegiance: An insurer's adjuster's loyalty is to their employer; a public adjuster's loyalty is to you. This conflict of interest impacts every step of your claim.

• When to Hire One: You should hire a Public Adjuster for any significant, complex, underpaid, or denied claim to level the playing field and ensure a fair outcome.

• Bottom Line: Shoreline Public Adjusters acts as your exclusive advocate in Minnesota, Florida, and Wisconsin, fighting to get you the full settlement you are owed.

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Public vs. Company vs. Independent: Decoding the Types of Claims Adjusters

After a fire damages your Minnesota business or a hurricane floods your Florida home, the claims process begins. Soon, you get a call from an "insurance adjuster." They sound helpful, but a critical question is often left unasked: Who do they actually work for?

Understanding the answer is the difference between a smooth recovery and a frustrating, underpaid claim. The insurance world has three distinct types of adjusters, and only one of them is on your side.

This guide will eliminate the confusion. We'll break down the roles, motivations, and allegiances of each adjuster so you can navigate your claim with confidence.

The Fundamental Divide: It All Comes Down to Allegiance

To understand the players, ignore their titles for a moment and ask one simple question: Who signs their paycheck? The answer reveals everything about their motivations.

1. Adjusters Paid by the Insurance Company: Their primary duty is to the insurer.

2. Adjusters Paid by You, the Policyholder: Their primary duty is to you.

It's that simple. Now let's look at the specific roles within these two groups.

Group 1: The Insurance Company's Team

Your insurer uses two types of adjusters to represent their interests. While their employment status differs, their goal is the same: to resolve your claim in a way that protects the insurance company's bottom line.

The Company Adjuster (or Staff Adjuster)

A company adjuster is a direct employee of your insurance company. They work on a salary and are trained to handle claims according to their employer's internal guidelines and protocols.

• Allegiance: 100% to the insurance company that employs them.

• Primary Goal: To assess the damage and close the claim efficiently while minimizing the payout. Their performance is often judged on how well they adhere to company cost-control metrics.

• What This Means for You: They are not your advocate. While they may be personable, their job is to interpret your policy and the damage in a light that is most favorable to their employer.

The Independent Adjuster

This is where the most confusion arises. An independent adjuster is a third-party contractor hired by an insurance company. Insurers use them when their in-house staff is overwhelmed, typically after a large-scale event like a Minnesota hailstorm or a Florida hurricane.

• Allegiance: To the insurance company that hired them for the job.

• Primary Goal: Same as the company adjuster—to manage and close claims according to the insurer's standards and financial interests.

• What This Means for You: Do not let the word "independent" fool you. While they are not a direct employee, their client is the insurance company. They are paid by the insurer, report to the insurer, and have a strong financial incentive to maintain a good relationship with the insurer to get more work in the future.

Group 2: Your Exclusive Advocate

There is only one type of adjuster licensed by the state to work exclusively for policyholders.

The Public Adjuster

A public adjuster is an independent professional hired directly by you, the policyholder. We have no relationship with the insurance company. Our only allegiance is to our client.

Think of it this way: You wouldn't let the IRS's auditor prepare your defense in a tax audit. Why would you let the insurance company's representative determine the full, fair value of your property damage?

• Allegiance: 100% to you, the policyholder.

• Primary Goal: To conduct a detailed and independent investigation of your loss, meticulously document all damage, and negotiate with the insurance company to achieve the maximum possible settlement under your policy.

• What This Means for You: You have a licensed expert on your side, leveling the playing field. We handle the entire stressful process, from deciphering complex policy language to quantifying every detail of your loss and fighting back against lowball offers.

At-a-Glance Comparison: Who's Who in Your Claim

Attribute	Company (Staff) Adjuster	Independent Adjuster	Public Adjuster (Your Advocate)
Who They Work For	The Insurance Company (as a direct employee).	The Insurance Company (as a third-party contractor).	You, the Policyholder.
Primary Allegiance	Their employer, the insurer.	Their client, the insurer.	Your best interests (Fiduciary Duty).
Main Objective	Minimize payouts per company policy.	Close claims efficiently for the insurer.	Maximize your settlement for a full recovery.
How They Are Paid	Salary from the Insurance Co.	Fee paid by the Insurance Co.	Contingency fee from the money they recover for you.
When You See Them	On routine, daily claims.	After major disasters (storms, fires).	When you hire your own expert to level the playing field.

Strategic Scenarios for Hiring a Public Adjuster

While a public adjuster can add value to any claim, their expertise becomes essential in these situations:

• Your Claim is Significant: For any loss expected to exceed $15,000, or that involves structural damage, the financial stakes are too high to go it alone.

• You Receive a Denial or Lowball Offer: If the insurer's initial offer won't even cover your contractor's estimate, or your claim is denied outright, it's a clear sign you need a professional advocate.

• The Damage is Complex: Claims involving fire, smoke, water damage, or business interruption are never simple. A public adjuster knows how to document hidden damage and calculate complex financial losses.

• You Lack the Time or Expertise: Managing a large insurance claim is a full-time job. A public adjuster takes this burden off your plate so you can focus on your family or business.

Why Choose Shoreline Public Adjusters? The Power of True Advocacy

In the world of insurance, you don't get what you deserve—you get what you document and negotiate. In Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, our team at Shoreline Public Adjusters serves as the policyholder's exclusive advocate. We never work for insurance companies.

Our expertise ensures that every detail is accounted for, every policy provision is leveraged, and your claim is presented from a position of undeniable strength.

Don't let confusion over who's who cost you thousands. Secure the expert representation you're entitled to. Contact Shoreline Public Adjusters today for a free, no-obligation claim consultation.

Shoreline Public Adjusters, LLC
780 Fifth Avenue South
Suite #200
Naples, FL 34102

Email: hello@teamshoreline.com
Phone: 954-546-1899
Fax: 239-778-9889