Agriculture Claims
Since 1946, Adjusters International Pacific Northwest has been helping producers, processors, distributors & growers secure optimal fair settlements for lost and damaged crops and equipment due to storms, floods, wildfires, and man-made accidents. As licensed public adjusters, we evaluate and document not only the physical damages to your facilities and property, but also the income lost from business interruption.
I had a major loss at an onion packing operation. The day after we had the insured losses I was contacted by Adjusters International. They seemed professional and immediately came up with some questions that my management team had not thought of. After an extensive reference check we decided to hire the team at Adjusters International. Adjusters International performed well above my expectations. They helped us obtain temporary equipment to package onions. They also fought an insurance company declaration that my storage building did not need to be replaced. In addition to this and perhaps most importantly they helped secure a fair settlement for my onion inventory and loss of business income. This settlement was over $1,000,000 more than originally offered by the insurance company. It was invaluable to have their expertise available while we were negotiated with the insurance company. My business may have not been able to continue operations if Adjusters International was not involved.”
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1
You just suffered serious agricultural damage and you are wondering what to do next.
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2
You call your insurance company and wait for an adjuster to come out, hoping that they will have your best interests at heart.
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3
You moved from the asset side of your insurance company's ledger to the liability side of their ledger.
We Can Help
Knowing everything you possibly can about the "fine print" of your insurance policy before you have any substantive dialogue with your insurer is an absolute necessity. Know what you are covered for and how to claim it. What you say to your insurance company's adjuster and how you say it can make a dramatic difference in how much you get paid. The more you know, the better the results.
Agriculture Factors To Consider
Be sure to understand each of the following factors before engaging with the insurance company. Knowledge is the key to a successful claim outcome.
- What is my broker's/agent’s role?
- Does the adjuster work for us or the insuance company? Why they can't work for both. Conflict.
- Is there coinsurance in my policy? What does it mean?
- How quickly can I get started rebuilding?
- Does my risk manager have the requisite skill sets to negotiate a large property claim?
- Growing crops cannot be processed – how do they fit into my property claim and my business interruption claim?
- Warranties and Protective Safeguard requirements. What do they mean? Can I still collect if I am not in full compliance?
- What happens when the insurance company engages a forensic accountant? Who does that accountant work for?
- Can I continue to pay my employees?
- How do I project lost sales? Sales declines?
- Is the insurance company using an independent building or equipment consultant to prepare a bid? Who are these consultants? Who are they working for? Do they only work for insurance companies?
- Replacement properties. Lease purchase strategy. Is it good for me?
- Replacing versus repairing equipment/processing lines. Pros and cons.
- What is the difference between a schedule of values and a schedule of limits?
- Are there temporary packing lines in other owned or non-owned locations? What happens at the end of my claim?
- What are the pros and cons of replacing versus repairing packing lines?
- Can I recast my financial statements? If so, why?
- Do I understand why coinsurance clauses in loss of income coverage can lead to disastrous results when including labor expenses in the cost of goods manufactured and exclude those labor expenses in the business interruption evaluation.
- Temporary facilities. Portables. Hardscape. Temporary or permanent? How presenting my story can affect my recovery. Do I know my policy provisions?
- How does my policy address increased costs due to new codes? If my coverage is limited, what can I do about it?
- Credit for continuing sales. How are they calculated?
- What are extra expenses? What can be included? Can I use extra expenses to offset shortfalls in property coverages?
- How is actual cash value determined? Why should I care?
- Can I compensate employees who help with cleaning or restoration?
- Will the insurance company pay for a construction manager?
- Should I have concerns as to how my insurer deals with pollutants - hazardous materials - lead & asbestos?
- Stock in the yard. How far from the building is coverage afforded? Measured from where?
- How can I continue to intake new material? Can it be staged elsewhere pending resumption of partial or total operations?
- How can industry statistics/surveys be used to support projected crop yields?
- How do smoke and the water used to fight the fire affect my machinery? Equipment? Computers? Other electronics?
- What is the difference between Actual Loss Sustained and Sales Value of Production and how does it affect my claim?
- What happens if I open my business elsewhere and I am successful? What if I am not successful?
- What are expediting expenses? How do they differ from extra expenses?
- Can I use proformas/budgets to calculate loss of income?
- Federal grants and subsidies: are they considered income?
- Increased efficiency and productivity with new equipment. Does the insurance company get a “credit?”
- Temporary production in other owned or non-owned locations? What happens at the end of my claim?
Agricultural References
In addition to the 5,000+ references on our list, here are some well-known names in the agricultural community we have helped.
- Aslan Cold Storage
- Cal Farms Leonard Farms
- Scott & Marci Cole
- Courtright Enterprises
- DiMare, Inc.
- Empire Rubber & Supply
- Eureka Ice House
- Eurofresh Farms
- Facciola Meat Company
- Farmers Cold Storage & Freezers
- Fowler Packing Company
- General Cigar Holdings
- Julius Goldman Egg City
- Harris Farms, Inc. / Harris Fresh
- Hinrichs Trading Company
- Steven Hunt
- Huntington Farms / Steinbeck Country Farms
- Inland Fruit & Produce Company
- Lancaster Company
- Thomas & Christine Livingston
- Los Banos Gravel Company
- Magic Valley Livestock Feed
- Robert Mann Packaging
- Nature Quality Partners
- O'Neill Vintners & Distillers
- Olives, Inc.
- Picchetti Winery
- The Plant Company
- S & W Seed Company
- San Joaquin Valley Dairymen Assoc. Richard Hughes, Accountant
- James & Earline Santoni
- Shadowdale Elevators Inc.
- Robert & Connie Silveira
- Silver Vase
- Silveria Brothers Farm
- Strain Ranches
- Suiza Dairy
- Sun Dry Products
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Sun Valley Raisins
- Traynham Warehouse
- Tri Counties Packing Corporation
- Triple G Dairy
- Tennyson & Linda Tucker
- U.S. Fertilizer
- Valley Sun Products of Ca.
- Village Farms
- von Strasser Winery
- Wawona Frozen Foods
- Wilkey Sheet Metal
The Difference Public Adjusters Make
We work exclusively for YOU, not the insurance company. Our insurance professionals have managed and negotiated thousands of claims for nearly every type of natural and man-made disaster. Local in our approach, we have over forty offices across the U.S. and Canada, and an unmatched network of expert resources to efficiently mobilize and be at your side.