Generally speaking, however, the claims adjusters, accountants, and attorneys that offer their services to insurers are distinct from those that offer their services to insureds. The majority of claims specialists offer their services exclusively to either insurers or insureds, rather than to both. The discussion that follows briefly describes these experts, outlines the services that they can provide, and identifies the situations in which insureds and insurers typically elect to use their services. Depending on the particulars of each claim, the insurer may also elect to use insurance claims accountants and attorneys. Independent adjusters, on the other hand, are separate business firms that offer claims-adjusting services to insurers for a fee.
Insurers vary with respect to their use of staff versus independent adjusters.
Some use staff adjusters exclusively, while others use independent adjusters exclusively. Still others use both, depending on such factors as the location of the loss and the type of claims expertise needed. There are a number of large, well-known independent adjusting firms. There are also a number of small independent adjusting firms, many of which are operated by former employees of the very large firms. Regardless of whether the insurer uses a staff adjuster or an independent adjuster to handle a given claim, the role of the insurer's adjuster is to determine the following.