Any experience with a public adjuster in an insurance claim?

[Suzanne Player]

Has anyone worked with a public adjuster on Long Island (Nassau County or Suffolk County) or in the New York City area to help with an insurance claim?  If you have any advice or experience to share, pros and/or cons, it would be helpful & appreciated.  

[Matthew Olszak]

I'm a public adjuster (not in NY though). Definitely hire one for a property damage claim, auto claims its not necessary. The insurance companies are absolutely brutal. The agents - they're great. Friendly, caring, etc. But the company adjusters and 3rd party adjusters are for the most part out to pay as little as you'll accept, or outright deny your claim. For example, wood rot is not covered in most policies. So you have a roof leak, the underlayment is rotted, they say they won't pay for it. BUT, the shingle manufacturer requires a nailable surface, which a rotted wood board is not, so they are required to pay for it under that. Same for a collapsed sewer pipe - they won't pay for the repair to the pipe, but they do need to pay for the damages caused to access that pipe like removing flooring, drywall, concrete, etc. However many times they won't tell you that, they'll just deny coverage and act like they fought so hard to get it approved but the coverage is just not there (when it certainly is).

A good public adjuster will more than pay for their fee with the extra $$ they'll get you. Don't trust the insurance company adjusters, they work for the insurance company only. In what other field would you trust the person who owes you money to tell you how much they owe you?

If you need a referral to a good PA in NY, shoot me a message and I'll send you a couple.