Public Adjuster, Attorney or Contractor? Who to Call for a Hawaiʻi Insurance Claim

After a storm, a lot of people knock on the door offering to help. Roofers, restoration companies, adjusters and lawyers all have a role, but they are not interchangeable. Knowing who does what keeps your claim simple, keeps your options open and helps you avoid paying for help you do not need.

Your insurance company’s adjuster

This is the adjuster your insurer assigns to investigate and evaluate the claim. They may be a staff adjuster or an independent adjuster hired for a big storm, sometimes from out of state. They decide, for the insurance company, what they believe the policy owes. They work for the insurer, not for you.

A public adjuster

A public adjuster is a licensed professional who works only for the policyholder. In Hawaiʻi, public adjusters are licensed by the Insurance Division, must carry a bond, and must use a written contract. A public adjuster reads your policy, documents and measures the damage, prepares the claim, and negotiates the amount with your insurer on your behalf. A public adjuster cannot represent both you and the insurance company.

Public adjusters are most useful when the claim is large or complicated, when the insurer’s estimate seems far below what repairs will cost, when the claim has been delayed or partially denied, or when you simply do not have the time to manage it yourself.

A contractor

Your contractor’s job is the repair: estimating the work, pulling permits and rebuilding. A good local contractor’s estimate is valuable evidence for any claim because it reflects real island pricing. What a contractor generally may not do in Hawaiʻi is negotiate your insurance claim for pay. That is public adjusting, and it requires a public adjuster license.

An attorney

An attorney gives legal advice and can file a lawsuit if one is needed. If your insurer has accused you of fraud, if there is a serious coverage dispute, if you believe the insurer is acting in bad faith, or if a lawsuit deadline is approaching, a licensed Hawaiʻi attorney is the right person. Island Claims is a public adjusting firm, not a law firm, and we refer clients to attorneys when legal advice is needed.

Side by side

• Who they work for: the insurer’s adjuster works for the insurer; a public adjuster, contractor and your attorney work for you.
• What they do best: the contractor fixes the home; the public adjuster builds and negotiates the claim; the attorney handles legal disputes and lawsuits.
• Licensing: Hawaiʻi licenses contractors through the Contractors License Board and public adjusters through the Insurance Division; attorneys are admitted by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.
• When to bring them in: contractors right away for emergency repairs; a public adjuster early, before the claim is decided, is ideal; an attorney when there is a legal dispute.

How they work together on a bigger loss

On a large hurricane, fire or water loss, all three often play a part. The contractor provides a detailed scope and local pricing. The public adjuster uses that, plus the policy, measurements and photos, to present the full claim and work through the insurer’s questions. If the insurer takes a coverage position that needs a legal answer, an attorney steps in. They do different jobs, so they do not need to compete.

Red flags, whoever is knocking

• Anyone promising a specific payout or a “guaranteed” result
• Pressure to sign today, before you have read the paperwork
• Someone who will not give you a license number you can check
• An out-of-state adjuster who is not licensed in Hawaiʻi
• Anyone asking you to exaggerate damage or change dates

You can look up a Hawaiʻi public adjuster’s license on the state Insurance Division’s licensee search. Our guide on how to check a Hawaiʻi public adjuster license walks through it.

Watch the clock

Many homeowners policies require any lawsuit to be filed within a set time after the date of loss, often two years, and Hawaiʻi does not allow property policies to set a limit shorter than one year. If your claim is still unresolved as that date gets closer, talk with an attorney well before it arrives. This is general information, not legal advice.

When you may not need anyone

If the damage is small and your insurer’s estimate covers it fairly, you may be fine on your own. A complimentary claim review is a no-pressure way to check, and if we think you do not need us, we will tell you.

Common Questions