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Once the adjuster has completed this basic preparation, reviewed the notice of loss and verified that the coverage exists, he or she should arrange to meet with the insured at the loss location and any witnesses who can provide details about the loss.

When the adjuster first meets with the insured, he or she should explain to the insured that the policy requires the insured to prove his or her loss to the insurer. The adjuster works to put the insured at ease by advising the insured that the insurer, in order to provide the best service possible and to act in good faith to its insureds, hired the adjuster to help the insured prove his or her loss. The adjuster also explains the he or she cannot prove the loss for the insured. The adjuster is only present to help the insured do what is required to obtain the benefits promised by the policy.

The purpose of a proof of loss provision is to inform the insurer of facts surrounding the loss, and to afford the insurer an adequate opportunity to investigate, prevent fraud, and form an intelligent estimate of its rights and liabilities before it is obliged to pay. [13 Lee R. Russ & Thomas F. Segalla, Couch on Insurance § 186.22 (3d ed.2011).]

The Claims Commandments

To be able to be a professional claims adjuster or public insurance adjuster it is essential that you are ready, willing and able to fulfill the Claims Commandments.

The series of claims commandments is an effort to provide direction to every person involved in claims handling for insurers and for the public insurance adjusters, whose duty it is to help insurers fulfill the promises made by an insurance policy.

(c) 2026, Barry Zalma

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Adapted from my book, Zalma on Insurance Claims, Part 104 Available as a paperback and Available as a Kindle Book

BARRY ZALMA:

The author: Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, Consultant, Barry Zalma, Inc., 4441 Sepulveda Boulevard, CULVER CITY CA 90230-4847. 310-390-4455, zalma@zalma.com, http://www.zalma.com, http://zalma.com/blog

(c) 2026 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.