A casualty adjuster’s job is to evaluate and settle casualty insurance policy claims on behalf of an insurance company. The person in this position is typically responsible for determining the appropriate amount of money to offer the customer who has filed the claim, as this can help the company avoid being sued customers who believe they are owed more. Working with customers, lawyers, and others to gather facts for a case is one of the most important aspects of this job. Casualty adjusters typically need to know how to use various research methods to obtain necessary information, such as medical records from an auto accident. They must then review all available information and propose a settlement amount to the customer so that the claim can be settled without going to court.
Investigating the facts is an important part of this business, and it’s usually necessary to call or meet with the person who filed the claim to get started. The adjuster’s job is to listen to the customer’s side of the story and then ask the right questions to get the most accurate answers. Customers are likely to be upset if they have suffered a loss of some kind, so superior customer service skills are essential. Adjusters not only interact with customers frequently, but they also meet with attorneys to negotiate, which is why customer service skills are expected to be above average for this position.
Even after the casualty adjuster has spoken with the customer to gather facts, the investigation continues, so paperwork and research are both important aspects of the job. Customers’ medical records are frequently requested adjusters in order to confirm injuries, and they must also check the coverage available for each claim. Files must be organized and updated, which can be difficult when a casualty insurance adjuster is working on multiple cases at the same time. In addition, most adjusters are required to write letters and send emails on a regular basis in order to keep the other parties involved in the negotiations informed.
The casualty adjuster is expected to evaluate and eventually settle the claim after gathering facts from various sources, including the customer, medical records, and witnesses. This usually entails determining who will receive money and how much they will receive. Negotiations may necessitate the casualty adjuster meeting with the customer’s lawyer to determine an amount that will keep the company out of court, or they may necessitate the casualty adjuster meeting with the customer directly if he does not have a lawyer. As a result, adjusters must usually use the facts of the case to reach an agreement that is acceptable to all parties involved, because offering too little money can enrage the customer to the point of filing a lawsuit, while offering too much can harm the insurance company’s bottom line.