Public Adjuster vs Insurance Adjuster: Who Works for You?

After a storm or fire, you will probably hear the word adjuster a lot. But not all adjusters work for the same side. Understanding the difference in the public adjuster vs insurance adjuster question helps you know who is looking out for your interests, what to expect from each, and whether bringing in your own representative makes sense for your Galveston claim.

The Short Answer

An insurance adjuster (sometimes called a company adjuster or independent adjuster) is hired by the insurance company to evaluate your claim on the insurer's behalf. A public adjuster is hired by you, the policyholder, to evaluate, document and present your claim to the insurer. Both handle the same kinds of tasks: inspecting damage, reviewing the policy and preparing estimates. The difference is who they represent.

Public Adjuster vs Insurance Adjuster: Side by Side

• Who hires them: The insurance adjuster is assigned by your carrier, either as an employee (staff adjuster) or as a contractor (independent adjuster). The public adjuster is hired by you through a written contract.
• Who pays them: The insurer pays its adjuster. A public adjuster is typically paid a percentage of the claim settlement, agreed in writing up front. Texas law regulates public adjuster contracts and limits their fees.
• Licensing: In Texas, both types of adjusters are licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), under different license types. You can look up any adjuster's license on the TDI website.
• Workload: After a major hurricane, carrier adjusters may be handling a very large number of claims at once. A public adjuster generally takes on a smaller number of files.
• Goal: The insurance adjuster's role is to determine what the insurer owes under the policy as they interpret it. The public adjuster's role is to make sure the insured's full loss is documented and presented under the policy.

What an Insurance Adjuster Does

Your insurer's adjuster will usually inspect the property, take photos and measurements, review the policy, and write an estimate using estimating software. They may bring in engineers or other experts. Many company adjusters are professional and fair. But they are working within the insurer's guidelines, often under tight time frames, and they are not responsible for finding damage you did not point out.

On TWIA windstorm claims, the adjuster is assigned by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and the claim follows the procedures in Chapter 2210 of the Texas Insurance Code.

What a Public Adjuster Does

A public adjuster handles the claim from the policyholder's side. Typical work includes:

1. Reviewing your complete policy, endorsements and exclusions.
2. Inspecting the entire property, including attics, crawl spaces and areas that are easy to miss.
3. Writing a detailed, line-item estimate for repairs.
4. Building a contents inventory for damaged personal property.
5. Tracking additional living expenses and other coverages.
6. Submitting documentation and negotiating with the carrier's adjuster.
7. Helping with re-inspections, supplements, and when available, the appraisal process.

A public adjuster cannot give legal advice or file lawsuits. If your claim involves a legal dispute, you will need a Texas attorney.

When Does Hiring a Public Adjuster Make Sense?

Not every claim needs one. A small, straightforward claim that the insurer pays fairly may not require outside help. Situations where homeowners often benefit include:

• Large or complex losses, such as a house fire or major hurricane damage. See our Galveston fire claims page for fire-specific issues.
• TWIA windstorm claims, which have their own procedures and deadlines. Our TWIA claims expert page explains the process.
• Low estimates that do not match the damage you see.
• Denied or partially denied claims.
• Wind vs. flood disputes, common on Galveston Island after hurricanes.
• Limited time, when you are managing a job, family and temporary housing and cannot also manage a claim.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Public Adjuster

• Are you licensed by TDI as a public adjuster? (Verify it yourself.)
• Are you local to Galveston County, and have you handled claims here?
• What is your fee, and how is it calculated? Is it in writing?
• Who will actually handle my file day to day?
• How will you communicate with me, and how often?
• What happens if I am unhappy with the service?

Be cautious of anyone who pressures you to sign on the spot, promises a specific result, or offers to waive your deductible. No honest adjuster can guarantee an outcome.

Common Misconceptions

The insurance company's adjuster works for me because I pay premiums. You pay premiums for coverage. The adjuster your insurer assigns works for the insurer.

Hiring a public adjuster makes the insurer angry. Representation is a normal, legal part of the Texas claims process. Insurers work with public adjusters every day.

A public adjuster is only for huge claims. Size matters, but complexity and disputes matter as much. A mid-sized roof claim that has been underpaid may benefit just as much.

A Galveston Example of How Scope Differences Arise

Consider a typical island home after a strong tropical storm. The carrier's adjuster inspects the roof from a ladder, sees missing shingles on one slope, and writes an estimate to repair that slope. A public adjuster inspects the same roof, documents creased shingles on other slopes that are easy to miss from the ground, checks the attic for daylight and wet decking, and notes interior ceiling stains in two bedrooms. Neither adjuster is necessarily acting in bad faith. They simply had different amounts of time, different instructions and different roles. That gap in scope is where most of the difference in a public adjuster vs insurance adjuster estimate comes from.

This is illustrative only, not a real case, and every claim depends on its own facts and policy language.

How the Two Adjusters Work Together

When you hire a public adjuster, they become your point of contact with the insurance adjuster. They share documentation, attend inspections together, and discuss differences in scope and pricing. Most disagreements are resolved by walking through specific line items with evidence. When they cannot agree on the amount of loss, many policies include appraisal as a way to resolve it.

In the end, the public adjuster vs insurance adjuster question is not about good versus bad. It is about representation. The insurer has a professional reviewing your claim. You can have one too.

If you want to test your numbers first, our claim settlement calculator gives a rough idea of how deductibles and depreciation affect a payout.

Talk to a Licensed Galveston Public Adjuster

If you are not sure whether your claim needs outside help, ask. Joseph Dittman offers a free consultation to review your policy and your insurer's estimate, and will tell you honestly if hiring a public adjuster makes sense for your situation. Call (832) 503-5866 for an expert consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Joseph Dittman is a licensed Texas public adjuster serving Galveston Island and Galveston County. Joseph represents policyholders on TWIA windstorm, hurricane, fire, flood and denied claims. More about Joseph · (832) 503-5866

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every policy and claim is different.