Services and service areas

After hurricane Katrina, a number of FAPIA members were invited to Mississippi to the state’s trial lawyers convention where public adjusters were considered to be illegal until that catastrophe changed everything. At this event we were greeted as advisors and not colleagues. Our president was advised that if he as much as looked at case law on line, he would be arrested for the illegal practice of law. This is solely a matter of education, as many attorneys and insured people really have no idea what we do. The insurance policy is a contract. When retained in a claim, we review the correspondences and documentation to date, then investigate the claim. This part is especially confusing for most as there are so many people giving misinformation. This works to the insurance company’s advantage. This is where a public adjuster is most useful. After a major event especially, condo associations are bombarded with roofers and contractors that advise that they can work directly with the insurer and will do the job for what the insurer will pay. This is almost always to the detriment of the insured. The important thing to remember is that an insurance policy is contractual and restoration to the pre-existing condition of the damaged property is owed. Roofers install roofs and while some of them have expertise to identify damages, most do not have any experience in the forensics of the damages occurred once the water breached the roof, and neither are they licensed to give such an opinion. While contractors are licensed to build things, they do not typically conduct forensic investigations.