Public Adjuster vs. Insurance Adjuster: Who's Really on Your Side?

An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company and protects their bottom line. A public adjuster works exclusively for you — the homeowner — and fights to get you the maximum payout your policy allows. That single difference is why Arizona homeowners who use a public adjuster recover 2 to 3 times more on their property damage claims.

Understanding which type of adjuster is handling your claim is the most important thing you can do to protect your financial interests after property damage.

What Are the Three Types of Insurance Adjusters?

There are three types of adjusters involved in property damage claims, and only one of them works for you.

Staff Adjusters (Company Adjusters)

Staff adjusters are full-time employees of your insurance company. When you file a claim with State Farm, Allstate, USAA, or any other carrier, the adjuster they send to your home is on their payroll.

Who pays them: Your insurance company — through salary and benefits

Whose interests they serve: The insurance company

Their goal: Evaluate your claim and recommend a settlement amount that protects the insurer’s profitability

Staff adjusters are trained professionals, and many are perfectly decent people. But their job performance is measured, at least in part, by how efficiently they close claims — which often means settling for less than the full value of the damage.

Independent Adjusters

The name is misleading. Independent adjusters are freelance contractors hired by insurance companies during high-volume periods. After a major monsoon hits Phoenix or a hailstorm tears across Mesa and Gilbert, insurance companies do not have enough staff adjusters to handle the surge. They bring in independent adjusters to help clear the backlog.

Who pays them: The insurance company — per claim

Whose interests they serve: The insurance company that hired them

Their goal: Process claims quickly for the insurer, often under tight time pressure

Independent adjusters may spend as little as 15 to 20 minutes on a roof inspection that should take an hour. They are handling dozens of claims simultaneously and are incentivized to move fast — not to be thorough.

Public Adjusters

Public adjusters are the only type of adjuster licensed to represent the policyholder. They have no relationship with any insurance company. They work for homeowners and business owners who need an advocate during the claims process.

Who pays them: You — but only when you get paid (contingency fee)

Whose interests they serve: Yours, exclusively

Their goal: Maximize your settlement by documenting every dollar of damage your policy covers

At Copper State Adjusting, we are public adjusters serving Arizona homeowners. We do not work for insurance companies, and we never have.

What Is the Conflict of Interest With Insurance Adjusters?

Here is the core problem: the person evaluating your damage works for the company that has to pay for it.

Imagine you get into a car accident and the other driver’s employer gets to decide how much they owe you. That is essentially what happens when an insurance company adjuster assesses your property damage claim.

This conflict of interest shows up in several ways:

Undervaluing Damage

Insurance adjusters routinely estimate repair costs below what licensed Arizona contractors actually charge. They use national pricing databases that do not reflect Phoenix-area labor rates, material costs, or the complexity of desert climate construction.

Missing Damage

A staff or independent adjuster may inspect your roof in 20 minutes and miss hail damage on the back slope, water intrusion at flashing points, or cracked tile hidden under debris. They are not motivated to find more damage — every additional item increases the payout.

Applying Excessive Depreciation

On claims involving older components, insurance adjusters may aggressively depreciate the value of your roof, HVAC system, or other damaged items — sometimes beyond what is reasonable or allowed by your policy.

Denying Legitimate Claims

Some claims get denied outright with vague reasoning: “pre-existing condition,” “wear and tear,” or “not consistent with reported cause of loss.” These denials are often wrong and can be overturned with proper documentation.

How Much More Do Homeowners Recover With a Public Adjuster?

Multiple industry studies have examined the difference, and the numbers are consistent:

• The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) found that policyholders who used public adjusters received settlements 747% higher on non-hurricane claims compared to those who handled claims themselves
• On average, homeowners who hire a public adjuster recover 2 to 3 times more than those who accept the insurance company’s initial offer
• Even after the public adjuster’s contingency fee (typically 10% to 15% in Arizona), homeowners still net significantly more than they would have on their own

The math is straightforward. If your insurance company offers $12,000 on a claim that is actually worth $35,000, a public adjuster who negotiates the full amount and charges 10% ($3,500) still puts $31,500 in your pocket — more than 2.5 times the original offer.

How Does the Claims Process Differ?

Without a Public Adjuster

1. You file a claim with your insurance company
2. They send their adjuster to inspect your property
3. Their adjuster writes an estimate based on what they found (and what they chose to include)
4. You receive a settlement offer — take it or leave it
5. If you disagree, you negotiate on your own against trained professionals
6. Most homeowners accept the first offer because they do not know it is low

With a Public Adjuster

1. You contact a public adjuster like Copper State Adjusting for a free claim review
2. Your public adjuster conducts a thorough, independent inspection
3. They document all damage with professional reports, photos, and estimates
4. They review your policy to identify every applicable coverage
5. They file or supplement your claim with comprehensive evidence
6. They negotiate directly with the insurance company — adjuster to adjuster
7. You receive a settlement that reflects the actual cost to repair your property

The difference is having a professional on your side who knows exactly what the insurance company’s adjuster is doing — because they understand the process from the inside.

When Should You Call a Public Adjuster Instead of Handling It Yourself?

Not every claim requires a public adjuster. But you should strongly consider hiring one if:

• Your claim was denied and you believe the damage is legitimate
• The settlement offer seems low compared to contractor repair estimates
• The damage is extensive — major roof damage, structural issues, water intrusion, fire damage
• You are dealing with storm damage from Arizona monsoons, especially hail and wind
• The insurance company is delaying your claim without clear explanation
• You do not have time to manage inspections, paperwork, and negotiations yourself
• This is your first major claim and you are not sure what a fair settlement looks like

Arizona homeowners in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, and across the Valley deal with storm damage claims every monsoon season. Copper State Adjusting has handled hundreds of these claims and knows exactly how local insurers operate.

What Does a Public Adjuster Cost?

Public adjusters work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket. Their fee is a percentage of the final settlement, typically 10% to 15% in Arizona.

If your public adjuster does not increase your payout, you owe nothing. There is zero financial risk to you.

Compare that to an attorney, who may charge 33% or more, or to handling it yourself and leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a public adjuster if my insurance company already made an offer?

Yes. Many homeowners hire a public adjuster specifically because the insurance company’s offer was too low. A public adjuster can reopen your claim, submit additional documentation, and negotiate a higher settlement. There is no rule that says you must accept the first offer.

Is it legal to hire a public adjuster in Arizona?

Absolutely. Public adjusters are licensed and regulated by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. It is your legal right as a policyholder to hire representation during the claims process — just like hiring an accountant for your taxes or an attorney for a legal matter.

Will hiring a public adjuster make my insurance company angry?

Insurance companies work with public adjusters every day. It is a normal part of the claims process. In fact, many insurance adjusters will tell you privately that claims handled by public adjusters are better documented and easier to process — even if the settlement is higher.

What is the difference between a public adjuster and a claims attorney?

A public adjuster handles the entire claims process — inspection, documentation, filing, and negotiation. They charge 10% to 15% on contingency. An attorney typically gets involved only when a claim is heading toward litigation or bad faith, and they charge 33% or more. For most property damage claims, a public adjuster is the more cost-effective choice. If litigation becomes necessary, your public adjuster can work alongside an attorney.