Staff Adjuster

More claims & insurance terms

• Smoke damage

  Residue, odor, and surface contamination left by smoke, which usually needs cleaning, sealing, or removal of porous materials. Each of those is its own line item, so a smoke claim's scope grows with how far the residue traveled. Hidden smoke damage often surfaces after the first scope is written.

• Soot

  The fine black powder left when fuel or building materials burn without enough oxygen. It sticks to surfaces, stains them, and carries odor, so a fire claim usually needs cleaning, sealing and deodorization lines, often followed by repaint. How far the soot traveled decides how much of the building gets cleaned.

• Statute of Limitations

  The deadline set by state law for suing over a claim, usually running from the date of loss or from the denial. How long it is and when it starts varies by state and by policy wording, so confirm the rule where the loss happened. Missing it can kill an otherwise valid claim.

• Storm Chasing

  Out-of-town crews that follow hail and wind events, knock doors, and often offer to handle the claim for the homeowner. Some do solid work, but they usually leave after the season, so warranty and callbacks are the real risk. Check licensing, insurance, and a local address before signing anything.

• Storm Damage

  Damage caused by a weather event such as hail, wind, or a fallen limb, as opposed to age, wear, or bad installation. Carriers test cause and timing, so the claim is strongest when the loss date, the weather record, and the damage agree. An adjuster may still call some marks cosmetic or pre-existing.

• Subrogation

  An insurer's right to recover what it paid from whoever actually caused the loss, such as a careless manufacturer or another driver. It means a closed claim can reopen, so keep your photos and documents after settlement. Recovery usually goes to the paying carrier, and the rules vary by state.

Common questions