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By: Devra B. Miller
Aside from participating in the smaller business-to-business venues, as well as expos for local chambers of commerce and the Property Owners Association, Miller & Son has joined the "big league." With its professional display and thought-provoking graphics, this licensed public adjusting firm has already set up shop at two very large tradeshows in Atlantic City, the New Jersey Apartment Association Annual Conference at the Tropicana Hotel (May 8 - 10) and the Professional Insurance Agents Annual Conference held at Bally's Hotel (June 10-12). "We are frustrated and concerned at the lack of knowledge on our industry," says Michael A. Miller, a third-generation principal. "We have found that most people don't even know that public adjusters exist and how we service the community after a disaster. Then there are those people that are aware of the profession, but, unfortunately, with a negative impression." Michael continues to explain, "Like any business, negative behavior usually makes the headlines, and in our industry, it has tainted many opinions. Very few people have heard about the positives in our industry, and there are many." Miller & Son is faced with the great challenge of proving to the community that public insurance adjusting is a legitimate profession that offers a vital service to property loss victims. For over forty years, Miller & Son has been preparing and adjusting insurance claims on behalf of business owners and institutions that have suffered property loss to commercial, industrial and municipal structures. They handle various types of casualty claims, including fire, vandalism, windstorm, flood and theft. "It is important that we get people to understand that public adjusters provide exclusive representation to the policyholders," says Robert B. Miller, another of the Miller principals, "the insurance companies have their adjusters, and the public is entitled to its own representation as well. We do not sell our services based on any negatives regarding insurance carriers and their representatives, but rather on the merit of our services alone. We alleviate the insured of many burdensome tasks, such as the time consuming and difficult chore of preparing and filing a detailed insurance claim." In many cases, public adjusters are forced to introduce their services after a loss has already occurred, a very stressful and inappropriate time for anyone to try to sell his or her expertise. When people have lost their home or business to a fire, they experience a period of turmoil - this is the worst possible time for a stranger to approach them, even if the public adjuster is offering to help. The property owner is seldom coherent or lucid during this state of emergency. Miller & Son is hopeful that by displaying at such tradeshows, the company will be able to speak to a receptive audience and discuss emergency plans of action in the event a loss does occur in the future. "The concept is quite simple," explains Jodi Miller, director of tradeshows, "to educate the public about our services before a disaster occurs and prepare them in advance for such unfortunate circumstances so they can deal and focus on the multitude of issues at hand. Now is the time, prior to any fire or flood, to form relationships, provide references and address all concerns." This is the reasoning behind Miller & Son taking on the tradeshow circuit. The company chooses to teach people about public adjusters at a much more opportune time, before the loss, and in a positive social, networking setting. Miller & Son has welcomed more than 1000 guests to its booth over the past year and anticipates spreading the good word to many more at upcoming tradeshow events. With its current educational efforts, both through tradeshows and its web site (www.mmillerson.com), along with its involvement in community work related to the Saint Barnabas Burn Unit in West Orange, New Jersey, the company seeks to bring awareness to its already ethical and hardworking reputation. Since Gerald and Jack Miller founded Miller & Son in 1960 in Newark, New Jersey, the company has made it a priority to forge positive relationships with members of the insurance industry and business community. The tradeshow circuit appears to be the perfect setting to continue in such a meaningful direction.
To The Burn Center At Saint Barnabas Medical Center
The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, located in Livingston, New Jersey, is the state's only certified burn treatment facility. With the most advanced life support and monitoring facilities, the Center has treated thousands of adults and children since its establishment in 1977. "It's wonderful to see that people really want to help and do something for patients here in the burn unit," noted Beverly Foster, director of the Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation. "Every donation is greatly appreciated." M. Miller & Son Associates, Inc. (Miller) specializes in representation of the policyholder following all types of property damage. The company serves as a liaison between the policyholder and the insurance company, handling claims as a result of property loss or damage from fire, floods, and other disasters. "Much of the work we do involves insurance following a fire, and Saint Barnabas continues to lead this highly specialized area of medicine for fire victims," noted Michael A. Miller, president of M. Miller & Son. "After seeing how dedicated the staff is, it makes me want to give more. I hope we can establish an ongoing relationship with The Center." Saint Barnabas Medical Center is New Jersey's oldest and largest non-profit, acute care hospitals. The hospital blends community service with advanced medical and surgical specialties. Founded in 1960, M. Miller & Son Associates, Inc. is one of the region's oldest public adjusting firms. In addition to handling all aspects of claims filing, Miller provides assistance immediately following a loss and guides policyholders through every aspect of recovery. Services include: temporary housing, office relocations, equipment rental, protection and clean up of damaged property, in-depth policy review to assess entitlements, preparation of a full building and contents inventory, business interruption, claims filing, and final settlement. The company's clients include commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential property owners.
Association Of Public Insurance Adjusters Michael A. Miller, president of M. Miller & Son Associates, Inc., of Hillside, New Jersey, was elected to serve on the board of directors for the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA). Miller, a member of both the New York and New Jersey Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, will serve for a term of three years, assisting the association in setting policy and providing oversight for all NAPIA programs and activities. Established in 1950, NAPIA focuses on promoting the interests of the public insurance adjuster and the insured whom they represent. NAPIA members include more than 100 public adjusting companies across the nation that must adhere to the established rules of professional conduct and ethics, as outlined by NAPIA. To ensure that members are knowledgeable and experienced, the organization maintains a professional certification program in conjunction with continuing education. M. Miller & Son Associates, Inc. is one of the oldest and most prominent public adjusting firms in the nation. The firm has been active in NAPIA since 1969. Founded in 1960, this third-generation family-owned company represents the policyholder exclusively following a loss. The firm prides itself in effectively serving commercial, industrial, and residential property owners. "It is a privilege and an honor to be elected to serve on the board of directors of such a prestigious organization in our industry," Miller said. "NAPIA is comprised of professional business people that conform to a rigid code of ethics. The group helps to foster goodwill between public insurance adjusters and the carriers, which is crucial to our services for policyholders." "It is important for the public to know that there is help for them following loss and devastation," he added. "Too many people think that they must rely solely on insurance companies and adjusters to settle a claim, and that they must accept whatever compensation they are offered. That is not the case, and that is where we can help." M. Miller & Son Associates, Inc. guides its clients through the entire claims process, from finding immediate temporary housing or office locations, to securing property clean-up, equipment rental, and more. The company handles all claims preparations. Compensation is based directly on a small percentage of the final settlement between the policyholder and the insurance company. In most cases, Miller estimates it achieves faster results and maximizes the recovery for the policyholder.
The Valuable Services Of A Public Adjuster
by Devra Bender Miller, director of marketing
While many of us are busy decorating for the holidays, we should keep sight of the hazards that also come with them. Using electric holiday decorations, the furnace, fireplace, or other heat sources in our homes and businesses can pose a fire risk. This time of year also involves a lot of cooking, which is the leading cause of residential fires in New Jersey (26.6%). If and when a fire does strike, it often has devastating results, destroying many irreplaceable possessions. Many people who suffer property damage are not fortunate enough to realize that there is help for disaster victims a public adjuster. The common belief is that as long as you have insurance, everything is taken care of in the event of a loss. That is not the case. After a property disaster, it is the policyholder's responsibility to protect the property from further damage, assess the building and content damages, and when necessary, take full inventory. It is then the policyholder's responsibility to prepare and present a detailed claim to the insurance company. The claim can often include extra expenses, code upgrades, rent loss, additional living expenses, and business interruption. It all begins with the policy, and since most people never read their policy, expectations are often unrealistic. Terms such as replacement cost, actual cash value, and depreciation may be meaningless. For example, most people do not know they can request a cash advance from the insurance company when a substantial loss is suffered. The problem is, after a disaster, the insured may not be emotionally capable or prepared to file a thorough claim.
Insurance companies have adjusters, building engineers, claims managers, and supervisors. While their job is to assess the insured's damages, as company employees they are also concerned about protecting their own interests. To this end, they want to minimize claim settlements. After all, the insured represents a loss, and all companies want to reduce their losses. Victims who are insurance-educated may immediately contact a public insurance adjuster to help them put the pieces back together as quickly and painlessly as possible. But not enough of the general public understands how a public adjuster can help by representing the policyholder exclusively. Public insurance adjusters spend each and everyday working with property damage. They are well versed in the language of policies and insurance, which gives them leverage when negotiations begin. Much to the insured's surprise, companies often prefer dealing with a professional firm rather than the policyholder, who may be too emotional to see the process clearly. A good public adjuster will meet the policyholder at the site immediately, and begin procedures for additional housing, cash advances, securing property from further damage, and debris removal. From the onset, the public adjuster reviews the policy in detail to evaluate all possible dollar compensation under the guidelines of the policy. He or she then assesses damages by completing a detailed inventory of both building and contents, represents the policyholder at meetings with insurance company representatives, and presents a thorough claim to the insurance company. Typically, public adjusters utilize a team of building experts, inventory specialists, accountants, emergency service personnel, and other professionals who are able to expedite the claim process. Their knowledge gives them the ability to shorten the time before settlement and increase the settlement amount. The fee for this valuable service usually amounts to 10% of the settlement, payable at the completion of the process, only after the insured is compensated by the insurance company. Most states require licensing of public adjusters by the State Department of Insurance. Although there are public insurance adjusters in most major cities, it is helpful to contact the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), which can provide area referrals when needed. They can be reached at 703-709-8254. As with any service, credentials should be checked before hiring a public insurance adjuster. |
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