Insurance Adjuster Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for an insurance adjuster job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an insurance adjuster. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an insurance adjuster.
Who is an Insurance Adjuster?
An insurance adjuster, sometimes known as a claims adjuster, is a person who evaluates an insurance claim to decide whether the insurer should pay for damage or injuries, and if so, how much they should pay. For example, if you’re in a car accident and make a claim with your insurer for the damage to your vehicle, they’ll assign a claims adjuster to your case to check you have the necessary coverage and that the damage is covered. Adjusters may also work with you to have your car inspected or arrange repairs on your behalf.
Insurance adjusters are responsible for reviewing insurance claims on behalf of insurance companies to establish who is accountable.
They examine the circumstances of insurance claims by talking with witnesses, reading police records, and assembling evidence from various sources. They will negotiate claim settlements and monitor that claims are paid out to policyholders. Insurance adjusters create work for insurance firms, agencies, government organizations, health insurance providers, and more. Because they must interview and meet with customers, insurance adjusters sometimes work unusual hours and may even be asked to visit accident scenes, vehicle repair shops, etc, in person.
Most insurance adjusters possess a bachelor’s degree, although often a high school certificate is all the education that is necessary for this employment. Because of the investigative nature of the work, analytical and critical thinking abilities are crucial attributes for these people. They must also be detail focused and exhibit good communication skills to deliver exceptional service to their customers.
Insurance Adjuster Job Description
What is an insurance adjuster job description? An insurance adjuster job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of an insurance adjuster in an organization. Below are the insurance adjuster job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an insurance adjuster job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an insurance adjuster include the following;
- Ensure insurance covers a claim.
- Investigate and evaluate whether a claim is legitimate.
- Assess the damages.
- Negotiate with claimants on behalf of insurance and resolve claims.
- Work closely with lawyers, physicians, and other specialists such as engineers or appraisers, especially when a claim is difficult or problematic.
- Gather facts and details on a claim. This may require looking into police records, witness testimonies, pictures and videos of the event, and the damaged property.
- Conduct interviews with relevant persons, which may include people who were engaged in the accident or event, witnesses, construction workers and architects, physicians, and more.
- Settle claims as fast and as pleasantly as possible.
- Travel to locations where a calamity has transpired and do so expediently.
- Prepare reports for use by claims examiners.
- Assist lawyers and other professionals against claims or claimants.
- Investigate the nature of the harm being claimed.
- Interview witnesses to grasp the nature of the claim and acquire an idea of what transpired previous to the claim.
- Evaluate police records, camera footage, past insurance claims, and other facts to better comprehend the occurrence.
- Create reports outlining the events and damage linked to the claim.
- Research the expenses of correcting the damage.
- Review the claim insurance holder’s policy to decide what should be covered.
- Coordinate the services of mechanics, architects, contractors, etc to guarantee damage is fixed.
- Negotiate claim settlements with claimants and/or their legal teams.
- Investigate property damage or personal injury.
- Gather information from sources, such as police records.
- Investigate suspicious assertions.
- Consult with professionals such as attorneys, engineers, architects, and medics.
- Compile reports of investigative results.
- Inspect the property and physical damage.
- Analyze complicated information from various sources.
- Examine claim liability.
- Prepare and process claim reports.
- Consult with experts (e.g. doctors, engineers) (e.g. physicians, engineers).
- Calculate perks and payments.
- Negotiate settlements with plaintiffs.
- Examine police records, footage from security cameras, or audio if appropriate.
- Support lawyers to defend the business in case of conversation.
Qualifications
- 2+ years of previous experience in a comparable function is greatly recommended.
- Superior communication skills are crucial for success in this profession as you will be responsible for interacting with everyone from claimants to attorneys and witnesses.
- Analytical thinking abilities are required to effectively analyze complicated claims.
- Great attention to detail is important since claims adjusters must thoroughly evaluate papers and policies.
- Solid writing skills are a benefit as you will be responsible for preparing claim reports.
- Skill and expertise in negotiating.
- The ability to speak a second language is an asset.
- Sound computer skills or the ability to swiftly learn new software.
- A strong work ethic and time management abilities to effectively handle a huge workload.
Essential Skills
- Claims Management: Claims management is the process through which claims adjusters monitor and handle incoming insurance claims. This involves assigning unique case numbers to each claim, collecting facts about the occurrence that led to the claim, and following up with customers once a claim has been paid. Having great claims management abilities will help you keep track of your cases more effectively and give better service to your consumers.
- Loss Control: Insurance claims adjusters need to be able to regulate their emotions when they receive a claim. They must stay cool and focused on the work at hand, which is to assist the consumer recover from any financial loss. It’s crucial for insurance claims adjusters to have strong time management skills so that they can finish all of their responsibilities in a timely way.
- Fraud Detection: Insurance claims adjusters employ their fraud detection abilities to guarantee that the insurance company isn’t paying for bogus claims. They may examine questionable behavior, such as a client who makes several claims for the same occurrence or consumers who claim they didn’t aware they were in danger of suffering a loss. Adjusters also need to recognize whether consumers are lying about facts of an accident to get more money from the insurance company.
- Detail-Oriented: Insurance claims adjusters must be detail oriented to guarantee they grasp the intricacies of a claim and can handle it effectively. For example, if an auto insurance company presents a claim for damage caused by a vehicle accident, the adjuster has to evaluate all the material meticulously to decide what occurred, who was at blame, and how much money the firm should get. This demands attention to detail so the adjuster can make correct choices regarding the claim.
- Policy Analysis: Policy analysis is the capacity to analyze and comprehend insurance policies. This expertise may help you analyze a client’s claim by knowing their policy specifics, including what they’re insured for and how much of a settlement they could get. It also helps you to clarify intricate policy terminology to customers so they have a better knowledge of their coverage.
- Coordination: Coordination is the ability to utilize your senses and body language to engage with others. Insurance claims adjusters generally operate in teams, so they must be able to communicate successfully with their colleagues. They also need to have strong coordination skills while working at a computer or on-site during an investigation.
- Risk Management: Risk management is the capacity to recognize and analyze possible hazards in a scenario. As an insurance claims adjuster, you may need to examine instances where there’s a chance of financial damage for your firm or customers. Your risk management abilities may help you assess how much money to devote to each claim and if any further safeguards are required to reduce future losses.
- Negotiation: Negotiation is the process of obtaining an agreement between two parties. Insurance claims adjusters employ negotiating skills while working with customers to create a mutually beneficial solution. For example, if a customer has experienced property damage and needs cash immediately, they may agree to take less money than their insurance company first gave them to close out the claim more quickly.
- Organization: The organization is the capacity to keep track of many activities and information. Insurance claims adjusters frequently have several papers linked to a single claim, so they must be able to identify what they need quickly. They also may work with multiple different departments within an insurance firm, thus organizational skills help them remain in contact with all their colleagues.
- Report Writing: Insurance claims adjusters employ report writing abilities to provide thorough reports on the status of insurance claims. These reports provide information about the claim, facts about the event that triggered the claim, and a list of any possible remedies for the claim. Adjusters often utilize these reports to communicate with other parties involved in the claim, such as consumers, workers, or contractors.
- Analytical Skills: Insurance claims adjusters utilize their analytical abilities to study and assess the contents of an insurance claim. They need to be able to identify critical facts, such as the source of a fire or the level of damage caused by a natural catastrophe. They also need to examine this data to estimate how much money the insurance company should pay out for each claim.
- Problem Solving: Problem-solving is the capacity to detect and address challenges. As an insurance claims adjuster, you may face problems while evaluating a client’s file or during talks with the client’s insurance company. It’s crucial to be able to assess circumstances and create solutions that satisfy all parties involved.
- Communication: Communication is the capacity to deliver information effectively and simply. As an insurance claims adjuster, you may need to engage with customers over the phone or in person regarding their claims. It’s crucial to be able to listen attentively and reply correctly so that you can assist your customer to comprehend what they’re entitled to and how much it will cost them.
- Customer Service: Customer service skills are vital for insurance claims adjusters since they typically deal with clients throughout the claims process. Customer service comprises offering information to customers, listening to their problems, and addressing difficulties that happen during transactions. Insurance claims adjusters employ customer service skills while communicating with customers by phone or email as well as in person at an insurance company’s office.
- Investigation: Investigation skills are vital for insurance claims adjusters since they frequently need to determine the origin of a fire or other accident. For example, if someone claims after their home burn down, an investigation could be required to establish if the fire was accidental or purposeful. This requires the claims adjuster to interview witnesses and review evidence to figure out what occurred.
How to Become an Insurance Adjuster
- Complete the minimal schooling requirements: To become a claims adjuster, you must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalent. If you do not have them, you might consider enrolling in GED classes and passing the GED test. Most insurance claims adjuster professions do not need persons to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, having a bachelor’s degree or more may set you apart from other applicants.
- Decide which sort of adjuster you will be: As noted above, there are numerous sorts of insurance adjuster employment available. Deciding whether you will be a staff, independent or public adjuster might assist you to identify which actions you will need to take to continue that career path. This will also give you a better picture of what you may anticipate when you do obtain a job.
- Take and pass an insurance licensure exam: Many states require insurance adjusters to earn an insurance-adjusting license. To qualify to take a licensure test for your state, you may need to first finish a pre-licensing course. There are various courses available, and many are taught both in the classroom and online. If you desire to work outside of your state, you will also need to secure reciprocal licensing in the states you plan to operate in. Research the state standards in your region.
- Maintain your licensure: Once you have been licensed as an insurance adjuster, you will be expected to maintain your license via continuing education credits and/or frequent license renewal. You may earn continuing education credits by completing classes both online and in person. Each state will differ as to its criteria for retaining your licensing.
Where to Work as an Insurance Adjuster
Insurance adjusters operate in a range of locations, including offices, residences, and the field. They may work for insurance firms, self-insured groups, or public adjusters. Many insurance adjusters work with insurance firms, and their work environment is frequently an office setting. Some insurance firms require their adjusters to work in the field, examining claims and interviewing consumers, witnesses, and medical professionals. Insurance adjusters who operate in the field may travel large distances and work unusual hours. They may also work in dangerous settings, such as in structures that are being restored or in regions that have been affected by floods or fires.
Insurance Adjuster Salary Scale
The average insurance adjuster’s income in the USA is $58,500 per year or $30 per hour. Entry-level occupations start at $44,558 per year while most experienced individuals get up to $95,000 per year.
The average insurance adjuster’s income in the United Kingdom is £40,000 per year or £20.51 per hour. Entry-level occupations start at £34,250 per year while most experienced professionals earn up to £64,750 per year.
The average insurance adjuster’s income in Canada is $55,500 per year or $28.46 per hour. Entry-level occupations start at $44,714 per year, while most experienced professionals earn up to $79,375 per year.