As jobs in the insurance industry go, claims adjusters have a pretty important roleto play. Individuals who purchase auto insurance often look for the best priceand rarely think about the claim handling aspect.

Auto claims adjusters evaluate insurance claims and decidewhether or not the insurer ought to pay a claim, and if so, howmuch. They investigate accidents or losses and make hard decisionsthat can financially impact those involved in the claim.

A work day typically starts with a long list of automobile claims, which need to be handled –now! A typical claims adjuster will work over 100 claims eachmonth.

Once the adjuster addresses all of the new claims, he or she canthen move on to other assignments such as: writing reports,attending appointments and interviews with claimants and witnesses,inspecting the car in question, and additional research such aslooking at police reports. They may also have to consult with avariety of professionals like third-party carriers, lawyers andphysicians in order to get expert evaluations of a claim. Often,adjusters have to work irregular hours in order to accommodate theheavy work load.

In addition to the normal work day, the auto claims adjustermust also be alert to any fraud, since some car owners and vehiclerepair shops have been known to defraud insurance companies withfraudulent claims. These frauds may include a situation in whichowners register their cars in a place where premiums are likely tobe lower, even though they live in neighborhoods where car theft ishigh and premiums are higher. Other examples include selling a carto a body shop for dismantling and then declaring it stolen,staging a car accident or exaggerating the cost of repairing a carafter an accident.

Insurance adjusters have to juggle mutliple priorities andstresses, but many still find it a fulfilling and interestingcareer. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Staying organized

With this crazy work schedule, and all of these considerations,it is no surprise that time management can be a challenge for manyauto claims adjusters. Adjusters can achieve a proper balance inlife by:

• Prioritizing: As an auto claims adjuster, youcan ease some of the burden by prioritizing the most urgent mattersand setting a realistic goal of how many activities you cancomplete in a day. Not only will you reduce your workload, thiswill make you a better adjuster.

• Avoiding procrastination and time wasters:Unlike potted plants, work ignored does not shrivel up and die. Itprocreates and gives you more work. So avoid procrastination. Comein each day with a positive mindset and set reasonable expectationson how much work you will finish. Avoid activities that prevent youfrom completing claims quickly. Have a proper filing system so youdon't misplace documents, which will slow down your efficiency.

Issues faced by auto claimsadjusters

Auto claims adjusters experience work-related emotional stressdue to the nature of their work. Not only do they have to deal withclaims whose impacts have had devastating effects on peoples'lives, they may also have to reject some claims which are genuine,but are not clearly defined in the insurance coverage policy.

Another issue is the impact on personal lives. Auto claimsadjusters are the ultimate road warriors. Sometimes travellingfrequently and often at short notice, they may be away from theirfamilies frequently and for extended periods.

With all of these challenges, however, many auto claims adjusters find fulfillment in theirjobs, especially when they are able to set and achieve goals.Achievements include making the claims process easy during adifficult time for clients. Adjusters also enjoy the chance toboost their company's reputation. Delivering good service means agood review and recommendation, which is a plus for them and theinsurance company.

The auto claims adjuster's day is a tough one, but theirimportance to the insurance industry cannot be overstated.

Frank Medina ([email protected])has been in the insurance industry for over nine years. He beganhis career in claims and now runs Frank Medina Insurance,which specializes in home and auto insurance.

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