Associates, LLC

Public Adjusters

Frequently Asked Questions

Curtis Wilson & 

a first party insurance claim.
 
Public Adjusters are licensed by state departments of insurance and are the only type of claims adjuster that can legally

represent the rights of an insured during a property insurance claim process. Typically, during a claim, the insurance company

sends an Insurance Adjuster to your property to assess the damage. Homeowners are allowed to hire a Public Adjuster to negotiate

with the insurance company and to independently assess the damage to a property or business. Property owners that do not want to
handle the claim process themselves, disagree with the amount paid, or need help with a denied claim typically hire a Public

Adjuster.

For more information on how a Public Adjuster can help you, please review this article from Lawers.com. http://research.lawyers.com/blogs/archives/26516-How-Public-Adjusters-Can-Help.html
 
Why would I hire a Public Adjuster?
 
Public Adjuster's are able to obtain more proper and efficient claim settlement checks. This is done by utilizing our knowledge

of the insurance claim process, the insurance estimating system, insurance claim payment rules, and processes such as appraisal only

available to Public Adjusters. In a state audit of Florida's claim payment process OPPAGA found that Public Adjusters receive

574% higher payments for regular claims and 747% higher payouts for Catastrophe claims than homeowners without representation.

Source:
http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/Summary.aspx?reportNum=10-06
 
How much will this cost?
 
There is no out of pocket cost to hiring a Public Adjuster. We charge a percentage of the amount of the total claim.  If we do

not get your claim paid or paid more than deductible, you do not owe us a penny. By looking at the OPPAGA study evidence of 747%

increases in claims you can see we are well worth it.
 
Why Curtis Wilson?
 
Curtis Wilson is experienced in handling catastrophe and non-catastrophe claims. He has handled homeowner’s and business related

claims ranging from small wind/hail claims to large commercial losses.  Curtis takes the lead on each claim handled by his office

and will make sure each claim is given the highest priority.
 
What is appraisal?
 
Appraisal is a process awarded by the insurance companies to homeowners that hire a Public Adjuster. Homeowner's that have a

disagreement of $500 or more with the amount paid on their claim may hire a Public Adjuster for the appraisal process. The

insurance company will then hire an outside company to negotiate with your public adjuster at the property. This process can not

be entered without hiring your own appraiser and is where a major portion of insurance settlement checks we receive are awarded.

How are free damage estimates made?
 
As a Public Adjuster we use the insurance industry accepted system of estimating called Xactimate. This system uses the average

cost of materials and contractors to estimate the amount to be paid for damages. Your adjuster will sketch your home and provide

you with an estimate of the damages you should expect to receive.
 
Are public adjusters only for homeowners?
 
No. Public Adjusters may be hired by any property owner, whether a business or residential. A business may also hire Public

Adjusters for Business Interruption claims. We can help with Boat, Yacht, Airplane, Private Jet, Jet Ski, and many other types of

claims. To see if damage to any property you own is covered please contact us.
 
What is a business interruption claim?
 
Business interruption claims are made by a business for lost income, guaranteed employee salaries, expenses, and even business

closure due to a insured claim such as a hurricane, fire, or broken pipe. If your company can not operate for a few days or a few

years, this type of claim reimburses your costs and lost income.
 
How long after the loss can I make a claim?
 
Depending on each state's laws, insureds typically have 1 to 5 years to initiate a claim.
 
How long does the process take?
 
Every claim is different and while there is no guarantee on time limits for a claim. The typical claim will take 2-6 months from

start to final payment.
 
Now that I have my check, can you fix my property?
 
No. Public Adjusters are forbidden by law to adjust a claim and perform the work in most states so we do not perform work.

However, we can recommend trusted local contractors.

Can you help me with my car insurance claim?
 
While Public Adjusters are allowed to adjust auto claims, Curtis Wilson does not specialize in them and therefore does not

perform these adjustments.
 
I have a house out of state. Can you help me?
 
Curtis Wilson is licensed in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado and can be emergency licensed for disasters in other states. A Florida

and Texas license is reciprocal to almost any state. Curtis Wilson also has relationships with other adjusters in 48 of 50

states, so please contact us for more information on how we can help you today.