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Wildfires in Washington State Highlight Need for Insurance Claim Advocates, According to Adjusters International
[July 25, 2014]

Wildfires in Washington State Highlight Need for Insurance Claim Advocates, According to Adjusters International


SEATTLE --(Business Wire)--

Adjusters International, the largest public insurance adjusting firm in the Pacific Northwest, is offering insurance claim review assistance at no-cost for victims of the Washington State wildfires and Carlton Complex Fire, to help maximize and expedite their insurance claim settlements. Company representatives are in the area and available 24-hours a day to provide insurance policy reviews, strategic roadmaps to recovery as well as a personal property primer.

Still burning, Washington State's wildfires have forced hundreds of people to evacuate. President Obama has declared a state of emergency, thus making federal funds available to victims in the region. As soon as it is safe to return to the area, the work of disaster recovery begins.

Property damage from wildfires is very different from a regular structure fire due to the intense heat from the combination of burning structures and vegetation. This intense heat creates visible property damage but also penetrates and damages foundations, underground electrical lines and plumbing, pumps, etc. The destruction of trees and landscaping creates the delayed risk of erosion that can render the property unfit for recontruction or even for sale. It is imperative that disaster victims educate themselves to understand their rights and what their insurance policies cover.



"It's the hidden property damage that makes wildfires even more difficult for victims when they try to submit an insurance claim by themselves," says Steve Severaid, SPPA, a principal with Adjusters International. "Too often policyholders only include the obvious property damage in their insurance claim, and later realize that significant damage was overlooked - when it's too late to claim it. That's where our expertise is so beneficial."

These wildfires share similarities with numerous others where Adjusters International helped victims in the aftermath, including Arizona's Wallow, Monument, and Horseshoe 2 fires; the devastating Angora Fire of 2007; as well as the massive Oakland Hills Fire of 1991.


About Adjusters International: The nation's leading public insurance adjusting firm, Adjusters International professionals work on behalf of policyholders - not insurance companies - in assessing property damage and preparing insurance claims. Our licensed adjusters, estimators and personal property inventory specialists have expertise in the regional particularities affecting every type of disaster and property loss claim, resulting in thousands of satisfied clients throughout its 42-year history. Adjusters International's representatives can be reached at 1-800-248-3888 or aipnw.com.

Available for media appearances or interviews: Steve Severaid, SPPA, is a principal of Adjusters International. With more than 25 years of professional experience, Severaid offers expert-level insight into disasters and insurance claim issues. As a Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA), he is a member of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. A licensed public insurance adjuster in 20 states, he is regularly invited to share his views as an expert on the topics of major property damage, insurance claims, and disaster recovery.


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