Pacific Palisades Fire Insurance Claim Help
Adjusters, Public Adjusters, Attorneys & Independent Valuations – Who Does What?
If you live in Pacific Palisades and your home was damaged or destroyed in a fire, you've probably already seen the same questions over and over:
- "Which public adjuster are you using?"
- "Do I need an attorney?"
- "Is my contractor's estimate enough?"
- "Where do independent valuation services like ClaimArchitect fit in?"
This page is an educational guide to help you understand the different roles people can play around a fire insurance claim, and how an independent rebuild valuation is different from claim handling or legal work.
Important: ClaimArchitect provides independent rebuild valuation and estimating services. We are not a public adjusting firm, law firm, or insurance company. We do not negotiate, adjust, or settle insurance claims, and we do not provide legal or tax advice. This page is for general educational purposes only. For advice on your specific situation, you should consult a licensed public adjuster, attorney, or other qualified professional.
Understanding the Key Players
Carrier's Adjuster
Works for the insurance company. Investigates claims and proposes what the carrier believes is owed under the policy.
They represent the insurer's interests, not yours.
Public Adjuster
Licensed professional hired by you. Helps document damage, prepare claims, and negotiate with the carrier on your behalf.
Typically charges a percentage of claim recovery (8-15%).
Attorney
Explains your legal rights, advises on coverage disputes, handles potential litigation, and negotiates legal settlements.
The only person who can give you legal advice.
Contractor/Builder
Understands construction reality. Estimates actual rebuild costs, identifies missing scope, and focuses on feasibility.
Essential for real-world construction costs and timeline.
1. The Carrier's Adjuster: Who They Work For
After your loss, your insurer typically assigns one or more insurance adjusters to your claim. They might be staff adjusters or independent adjusters, but in either case:
- They are hired by, and owe duties to, the insurance company
- They are responsible for investigating the claim, gathering information, and proposing what the carrier believes is owed under the policy
- They often rely on standardized estimating systems and internal guidelines
Some key points:
- Carrier adjusters are not your personal advisors
- Their job is to apply the carrier's interpretation of the policy and its procedures
- They may be juggling many files and working with limited time and data
You can absolutely talk to your adjuster and ask questions—but it is important to remember who they ultimately represent. For questions about your rights, potential underpayment, or how to respond to their estimate, you should talk with a licensed public adjuster and/or attorney, not the carrier's adjuster.
2. Public Adjusters: Policyholder-Side Claim Professionals
A licensed public adjuster is typically hired by the policyholder, not the insurance company.
In general, a public adjuster may:
- Review your policy and insurer's estimate
- Help you document the scope of damage and costs
- Prepare, present, and negotiate claims and supplemental estimates with the carrier
- Advise you on the claim process from a policyholder-side perspective
Common characteristics:
- Public adjusters usually charge a percentage of the total claim recovery (often in a range such as 8–15%, depending on jurisdiction and circumstances)
- They are licensed and regulated in many states
- They represent you in dealings with the carrier
Whether to hire a public adjuster, on what terms, and which one is right for you are all decisions that you should make with careful consideration and, if appropriate, advice from your own professionals.
ClaimArchitect does not serve as a public adjuster and does not replace that role.
3. Attorneys: Legal Rights, Coverage Disputes & Litigation
An attorney experienced in insurance coverage or bad faith matters typically focuses on:
- Explaining your legal rights and obligations under the policy and state law
- Advising you on potential breach of contract or bad faith issues
- Communicating with the insurer on legal issues
- Filing lawsuits or other legal actions when necessary
- Negotiating legal settlements or resolutions
In many significant fire losses, homeowners may involve an attorney when:
- They believe the carrier is unreasonably delaying or underpaying
- They are facing complex coverage disputes or reservation-of-rights letters
- The financial stakes are high enough that legal strategy is crucial
Attorneys are the people who can give you legal advice. ClaimArchitect cannot and does not do that.
4. Contractors & Builders: Real-World Construction Costs
Your contractor or builder plays a different but critical role:
- Understanding how your home was built
- Estimating what it would actually cost to rebuild with specific methods and materials
- Flagging scope items that may be missing or underpriced
- Helping you understand construction feasibility, timeline, and practical constraints
Builders are usually focused on real-world construction, not on:
- Policy interpretation
- Legal strategy
- Claim negotiation tactics
They are essential when you're asking questions like: "What will it truly cost to rebuild this home in Pacific Palisades?" or "Can we actually build this design for the allowance in the insurer's estimate?"
5. Independent Rebuild Valuations: Where ClaimArchitect Fits
Services like ClaimArchitect sit in a different lane from adjusters and attorneys.
We focus on rebuild valuation, not on claims handling.
What ClaimArchitect Does
For eligible Pacific Palisades fire and smoke damage losses, ClaimArchitect generally:
- Reviews your policy and carrier estimate for valuation purposes
- Reconstructs your home digitally (using professional estimating tools and takeoffs)
- Applies local construction pricing based on current market conditions
- Has a licensed contractor review and sign off on the valuation
- Delivers a detailed written rebuild valuation report you can choose to share with your own professionals
The goal is to answer a narrower, construction-focused question:
"Based on the information provided, what might it realistically cost to rebuild this property in today's Pacific Palisades market?"
What ClaimArchitect Does Not Do
To stay clear:
- We do not act as public adjusters
- We do not act as attorneys or give legal advice
- We do not negotiate, adjust, or settle claims
- We do not tell your insurer what they are required to pay
Instead, we provide cost documentation. Your public adjuster, attorney, and contractor decide how, when, and whether to use it.
6. How These Roles Can Work Together (A Team View)
In many high-value Pacific Palisades fire claims, different experts may each handle a piece of the puzzle:
- The carrier's adjuster processes the claim on behalf of the insurer
- A public adjuster (if you hire one) may handle claim presentation and negotiation for you
- An attorney (if you engage one) may handle legal strategy, rights, and potential litigation
- Your contractor or builder focuses on the practical realities of rebuilding your home
- An independent rebuild valuation service like ClaimArchitect focuses on producing detailed construction cost documentation
In a typical scenario, your own professionals may use an independent valuation to:
- Compare carrier estimates with independent cost views
- Clarify the size of any gap between coverage, carrier pricing, and real-world rebuild costs
- Inform their strategy when advising you on next steps
Again, those decisions belong to you and your advisors. ClaimArchitect's role is to provide well-documented numbers, not to direct your legal or claim strategy.
7. Questions to Ask Before You Hire Anyone
Here are some example questions you might discuss with potential professionals:
For a Public Adjuster
- "How are your fees structured?"
- "What is your experience with high-value Pacific Palisades fire claims?"
- "How do you typically work with contractors and independent valuation reports?"
For an Attorney
- "What kinds of fire and bad faith cases do you typically handle?"
- "How do you charge for your services?"
- "Would an independent rebuild valuation help you evaluate this claim?"
For an Independent Valuation Provider
- "How do you build your cost model for a Pacific Palisades-level home?"
- "Who signs off on the numbers?"
- "How do you stay within a strictly valuation-focused role and avoid claim handling?"
ClaimArchitect is happy to answer process and scope questions but will not provide legal advice. We always encourage homeowners to speak with a licensed public adjuster and/or attorney when evaluating options.
8. How ClaimArchitect's Pricing & Guarantee Work in Pacific Palisades
For qualifying Pacific Palisades fire and smoke rebuilds:
- Simple flat fee
- Guarantee: If the total rebuild valuation in your ClaimArchitect report does not exceed your adjuster's original written rebuild estimate, we refund your fee.
What this guarantee does:
- Compares our valuation to your original adjuster's written estimate for the loss
- Gives you a degree of assurance that we will either find a higher rebuild valuation or refund your fee
What this guarantee does not do:
- It does not guarantee any specific payment, settlement, or outcome from your insurer
- It does not replace legal advice or claim strategy
- It does not create any attorney–client or fiduciary relationship
Any decisions about how to use the report, or what to ask from your insurer, are for you and your advisors.
9. Quick Summary: Who Does What?
You can think of it like this:
- Carrier Adjuster – Works for the insurer. Handles the claim from the insurance company's side.
- Public Adjuster – If you hire one, they work for you. Helps present and negotiate the claim.
- Attorney – Advises you on your legal rights, coverage disputes, and potential litigation or settlement.
- Contractor/Builder – Focuses on actual construction, feasibility, and buildable budget.
- ClaimArchitect (Independent Valuation) – Focuses on detailed rebuild cost documentation, reviewed by a licensed contractor, that your team can use as they see fit. Not a public adjuster. Not a law firm.
Each one can play a different part in helping you understand and respond to a fire rebuild claim in Pacific Palisades.
10. Next Step: Clarify Your Numbers, Then Talk With Your Team
If you're:
- Comparing carrier estimates to much higher builder numbers
- Unsure whether to hire a public adjuster or attorney
- Worried you may be underinsured or working off a lowball rebuild estimate
…your next move is usually to:
- Talk with your public adjuster and/or attorney about your legal and strategic options; and
- Make sure everyone has the clearest possible picture of what it may realistically cost to rebuild your home.
That's where an independent, builder-reviewed rebuild valuation can help. It doesn't replace legal or claim professionals—but it can give them stronger documentation to work with.
ClaimArchitect provides independent rebuild valuation and estimating services. We are not a public adjusting firm, law firm, or insurance company. We do not negotiate, adjust, or settle insurance claims, and we do not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your own qualified professionals before making decisions about your claim.
More Pacific Palisades Fire Resources
When you're ready to clarify the cost side, start with our Pacific Palisades fire rebuild valuation overview.
If you're concerned about underinsurance, read our Pacific Palisades fire rebuild coverage limits & underinsurance article.
Whatever path you choose, it helps to begin with our Pacific Palisades fire rebuild estimate checklist.