WHO PREPARES AND SUBMITS CLAIMS?

Many people can be responsible for preparing and submitting claims. The policyholder should prepare his or her own claim. However, he or she may ask for help.

• Agents — The agent should help prepare the claim, making sure to carry errors and omissions insurance (because the insured will look to the agent, as the claim preparer, as the responsible party.
• Attorneys — Skilled in legal decisions, policy language and sometimes negotiation skills, but they cannot provide or coordinate the other services necessary for recovering after a disaster.
• Accountants — Skilled in tax accounting, but they may not be familiar with the accounting methods used by insurers nor the terms and technical language in the policy. Accountants can help with the business interruption and some of the calculations on contents.
• Insurance Company — Reacts to the claims submitted by the policyholder. While the company representative helps by advising the client, that person is not dedicated to getting the insured the best settlement possible. Insurance company adjusters do not have the time to help or give advice.
• Public Adjuster — Public adjusters are skilled in preparing and negotiating claims. They understand the complex technical language of the policy and current court cases affecting the coverage. Public adjusters use their skills to prepare stock, equipment claims, machinery claims, building claims and business interruption claims. Public adjusters are skilled negotiators. Rarely do claims end up in litigation.