8 Things Business Owners Hate About Commercial Insurance Claims – and How Public Adjusters Solve Them

A lengthy closure could turn customers away for life, while a speedy recovery could restore lost revenue ASAP.

Whether you have a BOP or standard commercial insurance policy, insurance is an unavoidable part of business ownership.

From liability claims to property damage claims, here are 8 things business owners hate about commercial insurance claims – and how public adjusters solve them.

Lowball Offers & Excuses

Insurers usually don’t want to pay the full value of your claim. They often want to pay you as little as legally possible without violating the terms of your insurance policy.

That means things like:

• Interpreting policy language in the insurer’s favor
• Issuing a lowball offer
• Pushing for a quick settlement to avoid finding extra damage
• Using inaccurate estimates to avoid paying full value for a claim

All of these things could cause a problem for your business. You buy commercial insurance so you’re made whole again after a loss.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters know the strategies commercial insurers sometimes use to limit payouts. They know when an offer is fair – and when an offer is too low. They hold insurers accountable, then present irrefutable evidence to justify a fair payout.

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Endless Delays

The larger a commercial insurance claim is, the trickier it tends to be.

Sometimes, delays are an ordinary part of the insurance process. The insurer is doing its due diligence.

In other cases, insurers might use delays to increase your chances of accepting a lowball offer. They could delay and disrupt your business until you’re ready to accept whatever they offer.

The longer an insurance claim drags out, the more it impacts your business – even if you have good coverage.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters know how to keep the claim moving. They communicate directly with your insurer, push for timely responses, and ensure your claim stays at the top of the queue. They know what your insurer is looking for – and how to present that information to speed up a claim. They also know when insurers are dragging their feet deliberately (and when dragging feet crosses the line into bad faith and unfair business practices).

Complex Business Interruption Calculations

Business interruption claims may seem straightforward.

Your business normally makes money. When your business is unable to operate, your insurer covers the interruption, right?

Unfortunately, insurers frequently challenge business interruption claims by:

• Questioning revenue projections
• Denying certain expenses
• Underestimating the true financial impact of downtime

Whether your insurer likes it or not, your business is entitled to business interruption coverage when forced to shut down or slow down due to a covered loss.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters have experience analyzing financial records, payroll, and revenue data to accurately calculate lost income. They work with accountants and experts to build a credible, defensible claim that shows insurers exactly how much you’re projected to lose – and why you’re entitled to full compensation of that amount under your policy.

Confusing Policy Language

As a business owner, it’s your job to know many aspects of your business.

Unfortunately, even successful business owners rarely understand the full extent of their insurance policy.

Commercial insurance policies are more complex than homeowners insurance policies. They might have:

• Multiple coverage types (like property, business interruption, and liability insurance)
• Multiple exclusions, conditions, and limits for each coverage type
• Unique coverages not found outside of commercial insurance, like equipment breakdown and business interruption coverage

It’s difficult to fully understand this policy language. After all, you’re not an insurance expert. Fortunately, public adjusters can help.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters help by interpreting your commercial policy. They translate your policy into plain English, then explain exactly what your coverage includes (and what it doesn’t).

Inconsistent Communication from your Insurance Company

Commercial claims typically involve multiple adjusters, departments, and contractors. They all have their own timelines and agendas. You might speak to one adjuster one week and a completely different one the next.

This inconsistent communication frustrates business owners. It might lead to miscommunication, lost paperwork, and hours of wasted effort.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters provide a single point of contact who manages the entire claim from start to finish. They keep detailed records of every conversation, follow up persistently, and ensure your insurer stays accountable. This steady communication saves you hours of phone calls and ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

Overlooked or Hidden Damage

Insurers usually don’t want you to find hidden damage. They likely want to close claims as quickly as possible and ensure you don’t scour your entire property for all damages.

Sometimes, losses are easy to document: a fire, flood, or storm causes obvious damage to your business.

In many cases, however, these losses also cause hidden damages. There may be smoke in air ducts, electrical issues, water in subflooring, and other issues easy to miss during a quick inspection. All of these issues could cost your business tens of thousands of dollars in the future.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters know where to look for hidden damage. They perform a thorough inspection using advanced tools – like infrared imaging, moisture detection, and expert assessments – to uncover all damage to your property. Then, they document these damages in a way that’s impossible for your insurer to deny.

Disputes Over Repair vs. Replacement

Can you repair or replace business property after a loss?

Your insurer might push for repairs because repairs are cheaper. They might claim you can simply patch over a water-damaged wall, for example. In reality, the entire wall should be replaced. Insurers usually push for the best option for their company’s bottom line, while business owners want the best option for their own bottom line.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters document and justify replacements with evidence. They may bring in engineers, contractors, or industry specialists to demonstrate why repair isn’t sufficient and why full replacement is reasonable and required under your policy.

Feeling Outnumbered by Corporate Power

Like it or not, your insurer has a lot of power over the future of your business.

Large commercial insurers often have entire teams dedicated to claims. They typically have attorneys, adjusters, and accountants representing their best interests.

As a business owner, it’s easy to feel outmatched. Even experienced business owners struggle to push back against a system designed to favor the insurer’s interests.

How Public Adjusters Help: Public adjusters level the playing field. They bring industry expertise, negotiation skills, and insider knowledge from years of handling complex claims. Having an experienced adjuster on your side gives you leverage. You know your claim is being handled with the same sophistication as the insurer’s team.

Contact ClaimsMate today for a free consultation with licensed public adjusters specializing in commercial claims.

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Level the playing field with your insurance company and ensure your business gets the payout it deserves.