The Art of Adjusting® Podcast

Episode #96: The Bad Faith Warning Signs

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984111/fan_mail/new] Bad faith doesn’t usually arrive as one dramatic blow-up. It shows up as a slow drip of little things: the voicemail that never gets returned, the approval that sits in someone’s queue, the vague diary note that makes sense only to the person who wrote it, and the template letter that accidentally says more than it should. We talk through the practical warning signs we see when a claim is headed toward escalation, complaint, or litigation. We dig into how understaffed claims departments force adjusters into triage, why vacation schedules and internal handoffs create gaps, and how stacked authority levels can turn a reasonable settlement into a trust-breaking delay. We also share communication habits that de-escalate fast: acknowledging frustration, picking up the phone, setting a realistic follow-up date, and explaining the “why” behind the timeline without overpromising. Then we get tactical about defendable claim handling. We explain what strong claim notes look like (so another adjuster could take over tomorrow), why “sent letter and cut check” is a dangerous level of detail, and how automation and AI can help with organizing but cannot replace human judgment or protect you from privacy risks. We close with a common landmine: form letters and 30-day status templates that include inapplicable language, creating ammunition for a bad faith narrative. Subscribe, share the show with another adjuster, and leave a review so more claims pros can find it. For more insights, you might consider a career in liability adjusting or if you're searching for reliable adjusting services, visit Auten Claims Management [https://auten.claims/acm-blog/]. To explore more about Chantal Roberts and her contributions to the industry, visit CMR Consulting [https://www.cmrconsulting.net/]. Promotions: * Once Upon a Claim: Explore the magical world of claims adjusting through fairy tales. Get your copy now [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?QyGNpf8BnCgojjIKIpQg3CrA64GdFdxS9dYhJ1Xqyo3]. * The Art of Adjusting®: Master the art of claims adjusting with practical insights and expert advice. Purchase here [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?hX7DTMY1JJB2jitQhT6BxCwMlA9NSwhSNpxXTk4JP6z].

Episode #95: How Much Liability Are You Hosting This Weekend?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984111/fan_mail/new] Memorial Day weekend has a way of turning “just one quick favor” into a full-blown claim file. We start with a simple scenario: you borrow a friend’s car to grab ice and something goes wrong. From there, we unpack permissive use, when auto insurance follows the car versus the person, and why household access to keys can quietly expand who counts as an insured under the policy definition. Then we shift into uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage, where your own carrier can end up acting like the at-fault carrier. That odd setup creates real claim-handling tension, and we talk through how adjusters can avoid treating their own insured like an opponent. We also cover the practical math of UIM limits, why state minimums can disappear fast after a serious injury, and how made whole rules and deductibles should shape subrogation expectations. Finally, we hit the holiday exposures we see every year: delivery driving side hustles that trigger business-use exclusions on personal auto policies, Airbnb and Vrbo “other insurance” conflicts, fundraiser and lemonade stand liability questions under homeowners business pursuit language, and the messy world of boats, jet skis, ATVs, and alcohol. We bring it back to adjuster fundamentals: ask precise questions, verify use and ownership, confirm motor size and policy thresholds, and document the timeline. If this helped you think differently about coverage traps, subscribe, share the show with an adjuster friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s the most surprising coverage dispute you’ve seen from a holiday weekend? For more insights, you might consider a career in liability adjusting or if you're searching for reliable adjusting services, visit Auten Claims Management [https://auten.claims/acm-blog/]. To explore more about Chantal Roberts and her contributions to the industry, visit CMR Consulting [https://www.cmrconsulting.net/]. Promotions: * Once Upon a Claim: Explore the magical world of claims adjusting through fairy tales. Get your copy now [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?QyGNpf8BnCgojjIKIpQg3CrA64GdFdxS9dYhJ1Xqyo3]. * The Art of Adjusting®: Master the art of claims adjusting with practical insights and expert advice. Purchase here [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?hX7DTMY1JJB2jitQhT6BxCwMlA9NSwhSNpxXTk4JP6z].

Episode 94: Summer Liability Basics For Adjusters

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984111/fan_mail/new] A lawn mower throws a rock through a car window. A kid hops a fence to grab a baseball near a backyard pool. A trampoline turns one “fun afternoon” into a catastrophic injury demand. Summer liability claims love to masquerade as simple, and that’s exactly when adjusters get burned by policy language. We dig into the fundamentals we rely on when analyzing homeowners liability and similar third-party claims: who qualifies as an insured, what “resident relative” really means, and how a live-in partner or a college-aged child can create instant coverage issues. Then we get practical with the definitions that decide outcomes, including bodily injury vs property damage, how to think about value and diminished value, and why “occurrence” is more specific than everyday speech. From there, we follow the real workflow: read the full policy, check the edition date, find the motor vehicle exclusions, and watch for exceptions and endorsements that give coverage back under tight conditions. The backyard hazards are where it gets real. We unpack lawn mower liability and the “service the residence premises” trap, pool claims and attractive nuisance duties, wet-surface slip and falls, trampoline exclusions, and fire pits where intent vs harm can decide coverage. We also cover the money topics that can make or break a file: umbrella policy notice, keeping excess carriers in the loop, MedPay as a control tool, and how Medicare and Medicaid liens can block “quick payments” if you do not handle reporting correctly. We close with dog bite claim trends, including New York’s Flanders v Goodfellow shift and what it means for negligence arguments. Subscribe to Art of Adjusting, share this with an adjuster who handles liability, and leave a review so more claims pros can find it. What summer claim has given you the biggest coverage surprise? For more insights, you might consider a career in liability adjusting or if you're searching for reliable adjusting services, visit Auten Claims Management [https://auten.claims/acm-blog/]. To explore more about Chantal Roberts and her contributions to the industry, visit CMR Consulting [https://www.cmrconsulting.net/]. Promotions: * Once Upon a Claim: Explore the magical world of claims adjusting through fairy tales. Get your copy now [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?QyGNpf8BnCgojjIKIpQg3CrA64GdFdxS9dYhJ1Xqyo3]. * The Art of Adjusting®: Master the art of claims adjusting with practical insights and expert advice. Purchase here [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?hX7DTMY1JJB2jitQhT6BxCwMlA9NSwhSNpxXTk4JP6z].

Episode 93: Contractor Damage, Subrogation, And Smarter Claim Handling

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984111/fan_mail/new] Spring doesn’t just bring warmer weather, it brings a whole new wave of claims problems: roofers canvassing neighborhoods, frozen-pipe losses getting repaired, and construction crews breaking ground. We sit down and get specific about what adjusters and policyholders need to watch for when repairs start, because the repair work itself can create brand-new damage. When that happens, you may be looking at two separate dates of loss, a first-party property claim, and a third-party liability claim against the contractor, all at the same time. We also dig into why “just file it with the contractor” is risky advice. We talk about the duty to open and investigate a claim once the carrier has notice, how subrogation should work in the real world, and why made whole rules can change who gets paid first when limits are tight. Then we tackle valuation and communication: actual cash value vs replacement cost, why market value is not rebuild cost, and how holdback depreciation and the 180-day notice of intent can trigger avoidable disputes if we don’t explain it clearly and follow up in writing. From certificates of insurance and additional insured wording to workers’ comp verification and contractor liability exposures like New York Labor Law 240, we map out practical steps to reduce chaos during building season. If you handle property claims, liability claims, construction-related losses, or subrogation recovery, this conversation is built for you. Subscribe, share this with an adjuster friend, and leave a review so more claims pros can find it. For more insights, you might consider a career in liability adjusting or if you're searching for reliable adjusting services, visit Auten Claims Management [https://auten.claims/acm-blog/]. To explore more about Chantal Roberts and her contributions to the industry, visit CMR Consulting [https://www.cmrconsulting.net/]. Promotions: * Once Upon a Claim: Explore the magical world of claims adjusting through fairy tales. Get your copy now [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?QyGNpf8BnCgojjIKIpQg3CrA64GdFdxS9dYhJ1Xqyo3]. * The Art of Adjusting®: Master the art of claims adjusting with practical insights and expert advice. Purchase here [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?hX7DTMY1JJB2jitQhT6BxCwMlA9NSwhSNpxXTk4JP6z].

Episode 92: Spring Storm Claim Playbook

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984111/fan_mail/new] Spring storms don’t just damage property, they scramble the story of what happened. One day it’s hail. The next it’s wind-driven rain. Then a ceiling stain shows up weeks later and everyone argues whether it’s a new loss, wear and tear, or “damage creep.” We walk through how we actually sort these files out in the field, especially when the insured sees one big problem but the evidence points to multiple incidents, multiple deductibles, and a timeline that has to be proven with photos and attic inspection. We dig into the roof-claim pressure points adjusters face right now: wear and tear vs direct physical loss, repairability, granule loss myths, and why cosmetic damage endorsements are becoming more common. We also talk matching statutes, discontinued materials, ITEL reports, and the real-world detail people miss: even if matching product exists somewhere, freight and sourcing can change the math and the fairness. Along the way, we share what we’re seeing in expert witness work, including how poor documentation and unclear communication can turn a normal property claim into a complaint or lawsuit. Then we get into policy mechanics that spike confusion during hurricane season and heavy rain events: concurrent causation, anti-concurrent causation states, and the practical need for wind and flood adjusters to coordinate so the insured isn’t left in the middle with an uninsured gap. We close with a simple adjuster framework: establish cause of loss early, verify functionality, document every step, and explain estimates so the insured understands why a contractor scope can be higher than a covered scope. If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with another adjuster, and leave a review so more claims folks can find the show. For more insights, you might consider a career in liability adjusting or if you're searching for reliable adjusting services, visit Auten Claims Management [https://auten.claims/acm-blog/]. To explore more about Chantal Roberts and her contributions to the industry, visit CMR Consulting [https://www.cmrconsulting.net/]. Promotions: * Once Upon a Claim: Explore the magical world of claims adjusting through fairy tales. Get your copy now [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?QyGNpf8BnCgojjIKIpQg3CrA64GdFdxS9dYhJ1Xqyo3]. * The Art of Adjusting®: Master the art of claims adjusting with practical insights and expert advice. Purchase here [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?hX7DTMY1JJB2jitQhT6BxCwMlA9NSwhSNpxXTk4JP6z].