Fire Insurance Claim Help: Adjusters, Public Adjusters, Attorneys & Valuations (Pacific Palisades 2025)

When the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire tore through Pacific Palisades and Altadena in January 2025, thousands of families were suddenly thrust into a world of claim numbers, coverage limits, and complex paperwork. Together, these fires became part of the costliest wildfire event on record, with tens of billions in insured losses and entire neighborhoods facing full or partial rebuilds.

If you're a homeowner here, you're probably hearing a lot of terms:

• Adjuster
• Public adjuster
• Attorney
• Independent valuation

This guide breaks down who does what—and where a service like ClaimArchitect can fit into that picture.

1. The Three Types of Adjusters in a California Fire Claim

The California Department of Insurance describes three broad types of adjusters involved in property claims: company adjusters, independent adjusters, and public adjusters.

(a) Company Adjuster (or "Staff Adjuster")

• Who they work for: Your insurance company.
• What they do: Inspect damage, apply policy language, and prepare or approve the initial estimate on behalf of the carrier.
• How they're paid: Salary or compensation from the insurer (they don't charge you directly).
• Goal: Handle claims efficiently and within the company's internal guidelines and systems.

They can be helpful and professional, but their job is ultimately to represent the insurance company's interests, not yours.

(b) Independent Adjuster

• Who they work for: They're contractors hired by the insurance company, especially during big disasters when claim volume spikes.
• What they do: Similar to staff adjusters—inspect, document, and estimate losses for the carrier.
• How they're paid: By the insurer or a vendor firm, not by you.

In practice, you might not always know whether you're dealing with a staff or independent adjuster; both are there to handle the claim on the insurer's side.

(c) Public Adjuster (for the policyholder)

A public adjuster is a licensed professional you hire directly to help document your loss, interpret your policy, and negotiate your claim with the insurance company.

Key points:

• Who they work for: You, the policyholder—not the insurance company.
• What they do:
  • Review your policy and estimate
  • Help document scope and pricing
  • Prepare supplements
  • Negotiate directly with the carrier on your behalf
• How they're paid: Typically a percentage of your insurance settlement, often in the single- to mid-teens, and in California subject to fee caps for disaster-related residential claims (for example, legislation like AB 597 limits certain public adjuster fees to a maximum percentage of the claim).

Public adjusters can add significant value, especially on large, complex wildfire claims—but they are also directly involved in adjusting and negotiating the claim, which is tightly regulated in California.

2. When Attorneys Get Involved

Attorneys tend to come into Pacific Palisades fire claims when:

• There are disputes over coverage or bad faith
• There are governmental or third-party claims, such as lawsuits related to alleged negligence, utility equipment, or public entities
• Negotiations have broken down and litigation is on the table

A fire-claim attorney may:

• Assist you in understanding your legal rights
• Challenge denials, low settlements, or delays
• File lawsuits against insurers or third parties where appropriate

Most wildfire-related insurance attorneys work on some form of contingency fee, meaning they take a percentage of the recovery if they win or settle the case. Exact percentages and terms vary by law firm and must be spelled out in your fee agreement.

If you're considering legal action, you should speak directly with a licensed attorney who focuses on fire or insurance litigation. You can also use resources like the California Department of Insurance and nonprofits such as United Policyholders for consumer education and referrals.

3. Where Independent Rebuild Valuations Fit (Like ClaimArchitect)

In between the carrier's estimate and formal legal action, there's a big question many Palisades homeowners are asking:

"What does it actually cost to rebuild my home now, in this market?"

That's where an independent rebuild valuation comes in. Learn more about how the ClaimArchitect process works.

These services focus on measuring and pricing the rebuild itself, not on adjusting, negotiating, or settling the claim. In the case of ClaimArchitect, that means:

• Reviewing your full policy and your carrier's written rebuild estimate
• Digitally reconstructing your home using professional construction-estimating tools
• Running detailed takeoffs to capture square footage, linear footage, finishes, and systems
• Applying local labor and material pricing based on what it costs to build right now in our market
• Having a licensed general contractor review and sign off on the valuation
• Delivering a 55–75 page rebuild valuation report you can use with your adjuster, public adjuster, or attorney

ClaimArchitect:

• Does not negotiate, adjust, or settle claims
• Is not a public adjusting firm or law firm
• Provides a third-party valuation that can sit alongside contractor bids and professional advice

Many families, public adjusters, and attorneys use this type of report as evidence to support their position, especially when there's a large gap between the carrier's number and real-world bids.

4. How to Decide Who You Need (and When)

Every Pacific Palisades claim is different, but a simple way to think about it is:

5. Local Resources for Pacific Palisades Fire Survivors

In addition to any private professionals you hire, Pacific Palisades and Altadena fire survivors can draw on:

• California Department of Insurance: consumer hotlines, adjuster guidance, and complaint processes
• Nonprofit advocacy groups (such as United Policyholders) that specialize in wildfire claim education and support
• Local builder and contractor networks who can help sanity-check real-world rebuild costs
• Rebuild resources and guides for navigating the recovery process

6. Where ClaimArchitect Can Help

If you're looking at a rebuild estimate after the 2025 fires that doesn't feel right, ClaimArchitect gives you a way to:

• Turn policies, estimates, and photos into a builder-verified valuation
• Understand the real cost to rebuild your specific home
• Bring a detailed, architect-level report into conversations with your adjuster, public adjuster, or attorney

You stay in control of who handles negotiations or legal strategy. ClaimArchitect focuses on what it knows best: measuring and pricing the rebuild itself.