Public Insurance Adjusters Help Woman Rebuild After Fire

South Cheatham Advocate
January 9, 2009

As temperatures drop in Middle Tennessee, the chance of a house fire increases. No one ever expects a fire in their home, but last fall it happened to Joelton resident Patricia Northrop.

As a single mom who was taking care of her parents and children, Patricia had limited time to devote to the claims process. She depended on her insurance company to provide her with the appropriate settlement when her house was destroyed.

However, without the help of the public insurance adjusters at FirstCall Claims, this would not have happened.

Public insurance adjusters work on behalf of the homeowner to make sure they receive as much money as possible after experiencing a property loss and must be licensed by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

"I had never heard of public insurance adjusters," said Northrop. "So, I didn't realize that someone besides the insurance company representative could help me with my claim. But, when FirstCall stepped in, I was so relieved."

Although most people never go through a fire or its aftermath, FirstCall works with insurance companies and homeowners like Northrop on a daily basis.

"As public insurance adjusters, we are advocates for the insured," said FirstCall founder, Phil Breeden. "We know the ins and outs of insurance policies and the process. This lets us alleviate stress for our clients and increase their financial settlements."

On average, Breeden said FirstCall, which has been in business for 20 years, increases its clients' settlements by more than 50 percent. One way it does this is by preparing meticulous documentation of the contents that were in the home.

"Unfortunately most people think all they have to do is call their insurance company after a loss and let the insurance company determine their settlement," said Breeden. "But, preparing the proof and the documentation regarding a loss is the responsibility of the homeowner. We help with this process, lifting what can be an overwhelming burden."

Northrop agreed, and said that without the help of FirstCall, she wouldn't have remembered half of her home's contents.

"Thank goodness I found out about the public insurance adjusters ay FirstCall," she said. "I am confident that without them, I would not have gotten my life back after the fire."

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