Frequently Asked Questions About Public Adjusters

A public adjuster is a licensed insurance professional who represents policyholders, not insurance companies, during the claims process. Your insurance carrier's adjuster works to protect the company's financial interests. A public adjuster works exclusively for you, documenting your damage, interpreting your policy, and negotiating so you receive what you are owed. Public adjusters are regulated by state licensing boards and must pass examinations and maintain continuing education to remain licensed.

A public adjuster reviews your policy, inspects your damage, documents every element of your loss, prepares your claim, and negotiates with your insurance carrier on your behalf. We manage communication with your carrier's adjuster and respond to requests for information. We guide you through the documents and information we need from you to build the strongest possible claim. Our goal is to ensure you receive every dollar you are entitled to under your policy.

The difference comes down to loyalty. The insurance company's adjuster is employed by or contracted by your carrier. They represent the carrier's financial interests, not yours. A public adjuster is hired by and works exclusively for you. Their adjuster documents and negotiates in favor of the insurance company's position. Our adjuster documents and negotiates in favor of yours. Our loyalty is to our clients. Their loyalty is to a corporation.

For very minor claims, a single broken window or a small plumbing repair, a public adjuster may not be necessary, and we will tell you that honestly if it applies to your situation. For any claim involving structural damage, multiple systems, or a dispute with your carrier, professional representation typically results in a meaningfully higher settlement that more than covers our fee. Contact us and describe your situation. We will give you a straight answer about whether our involvement makes sense.

For most property damage claims involving structural loss, multiple damage types, or any dispute with your carrier, yes. A Florida OPPAGA study found that public adjuster-assisted claims settled for 747%* more than claims policyholders handled alone. (*Results vary. Settlements depend on policy limits, damage scope, and carrier.) Since we work on contingency, you do not pay us unless we recover money for you. There is no financial downside to at least having a conversation with us about your claim.

Hughes & Associates is licensed to practice in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Our primary office is in Lynchburg, Virginia, and we maintain a second office in Wilmington, North Carolina. We are able to respond throughout all eight states. If you are in a state we do not currently serve, we can refer you to a trusted public adjuster in your area.

Hughes & Associates works on contingency. We charge a percentage of your total claim value, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. Our fee comes out of what we recover on your behalf, not out of your pocket. The exact percentage varies by claim type and state regulations, and we discuss our fee clearly before any engagement begins. Note that some claims may require outside experts (engineers, forensic specialists, etc.) whose fees are separate from ours and would be the client's responsibility.

Public adjuster fees are regulated by state law and vary by state. In most states where we operate, fees range from 10% to 20% of the total claim value. Some states impose specific caps for catastrophe claims. In insurance, 'catastrophe' has a precise definition: a disaster declared by a state or federal authority (such as a hurricane, tornado outbreak, or major wildfire), not simply a large or devastating personal loss. We disclose our fee clearly and in writing before we begin any work. Many of our clients find that even after our fee, their net recovery is significantly higher than what they would have received on their own.

Yes. You can hire a public adjuster at any point during the claims process, before you file, after you file, or after you receive an initial settlement offer. If you have already filed a claim and received an offer you believe is too low, a public adjuster can review your policy and documented damages to determine whether you are entitled to more. Signing and accepting a settlement check does not necessarily close your claim permanently.

Claim timelines vary significantly based on claim complexity, your insurance carrier, and your state's regulations. Simple claims may resolve in a few weeks. Complex claims involving structural damage, multiple coverage categories, or carrier disputes can take months. Having a public adjuster on your side typically speeds the process. We know how to submit complete, well-documented claims that don't invite delays, while also making sure speed doesn't come at the cost of completeness.

Contact your insurance carrier directly to report your loss and request a claim number. Your carrier will assign an adjuster to inspect the damage. Before that inspection occurs, photograph and document everything. The quality of your initial documentation significantly affects your settlement. Contact Hughes & Associates immediately after reporting the claim so we can be present for the initial inspection and begin building your claim file alongside the carrier.

Ensure everyone is safe first. Then take all steps to mitigate further damage. This is required by your insurance policy. Shut off the water, tarp a damaged roof, board a broken window. Your carrier can deny or reduce coverage if you fail to protect your property from additional harm. Document everything with photographs and video before cleaning or moving anything. Then contact Hughes & Associates. The sooner we are involved, the more complete your documentation will be and the stronger your claim will be.

No. A well-organized public adjuster typically accelerates a claim by submitting complete, properly documented claim packages that don't require back-and-forth with the carrier for missing information. Delays in the claims process most often occur when documentation is incomplete or when the policyholder is unfamiliar with the carrier's process. We handle that process professionally and efficiently.

Your insurance policy is the most important document. Locate the declarations page and any endorsements before your adjuster arrives. You will also need your policy number, your agent's contact information, and documentation of the damaged property (photographs, purchase receipts, serial numbers for equipment). We will guide you through what is needed, but your active involvement matters. We often ask clients to provide quotes and estimates from their preferred contractor, mitigation invoices, and other records throughout the process. The stronger the documentation you help provide, the stronger the claim we can build together.

We respond to inquiries promptly and schedule inspections as quickly as our calendar allows. Scheduling depends on several factors, including our current workload and your location. We require all clients to sign our representation agreement before we schedule an on-site inspection. Once the agreement is in place, we coordinate an inspection at the earliest available time. Contact us at (434) 846-5555 to discuss your situation.

Many denied claims can be reopened or disputed. Insurance carriers deny claims for a variety of reasons, some legitimate, some not. If your claim was denied, a public adjuster can review the denial letter, examine your policy language, and determine whether the denial was appropriate or whether grounds exist to dispute it. The timeframes for reopening or disputing a claim vary by state and policy, so acting promptly is important.

We handle both Commercial and Residential Fire, Water, Wind & Storm, Hurricane, Hail, Vandalism, and Theft. We also handle sub-categories like Smoke Damage (under Fire), Pipe Burst (under Water), and Roof Damage (under Hail or Wind & Storm). If you have experienced property damage and are unsure whether we handle your type of claim, contact us. The answer is almost certainly yes.

Yes. A denial is not always the end of your claim. A public adjuster can review your denial letter and policy language to determine whether the denial was appropriate or whether it can be challenged. We prepare dispute letters, gather supporting documentation, and work with legal counsel on your behalf when necessary. Many policyholders who receive initial denials ultimately receive settlement after professional review and dispute.

Yes. Hughes & Associates represents both residential and commercial policyholders. Commercial property claims involve additional complexity: business interruption coverage, equipment and inventory losses, tenant buildout considerations, and commercial general liability policy interactions. All of that benefits from professional representation. We handle commercial fire, water, storm, and other damage claims for business owners across all eight states we serve.

An initial settlement offer from your insurance carrier is rarely the full amount. You have the right to dispute the amount and to hire a public adjuster to represent you even after an offer has been made, as long as you have not accepted a full release of claims (carriers often call this a "Universal Release" or "Universal Settlement"). Before you accept, give us a call and we can help explain what's going on. We review the offer against your documented damages and policy coverage to determine whether additional settlement is warranted.

Yes. A supplement is filed when your initial settlement was insufficient to cover the full cost of restoration, often discovered when contractors begin work and find damage that was not visible in the initial inspection. Supplements are common in fire, water, and storm damage cases. Hughes & Associates handles supplements and re-inspections to ensure you receive the full amount needed to complete your restoration.

Yes. Public adjusters must be licensed in every state where they practice. Licensing requirements include passing a state examination, maintaining a surety bond, completing continuing education, and adhering to state regulations governing fee structures and conduct. Hughes & Associates is licensed in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. You can verify any public adjuster's license through your state's insurance department website.

A public adjuster handles the claims adjustment and negotiation process: documenting your loss, preparing your claim, and negotiating your settlement directly with your carrier. An insurance attorney handles legal disputes, lawsuits, and bad faith claims against carriers. In most property damage cases, a public adjuster resolves the claim without litigation. When legal action becomes necessary, public adjusters and attorneys often work together. We handle the claims documentation; the attorney handles any legal proceedings.