### Engineers and Insurance Claims: How an Engineer Inspection Could Influence Your Claim

Your insurance company may hire an engineer to document damages and determine the cause of damage for your insurance claim.

Engineers play a crucial role in the insurance claim process, as they analyze damage to ensure claims are accurate. However, it's important to be aware that engineers often represent the best interests of the insurance company rather than the policyholder. In some cases, insurance companies and engineers have been accused of collaborating to commit insurance fraud by finding faults with your claim where none exist.

Yes, engineers can influence your insurance claim. Here, we’ll explain the role engineers play in insurance claims and how it may affect your settlement.

### Why is the Insurance Company Sending an Engineer?

Insurance companies typically send an engineer when there is a dispute about damages, the cause of the damage, or the correct way to repair or replace the damaged item.

The engineer will inspect various aspects of your property to verify the damage. Often, the engineer will document other damages in the home as well, even if they are unrelated to the claim. Once the inspection is complete, the engineer produces a report for the insurance company.

When your insurer sends notice of an engineering inspection, it may be time to consider hiring a public adjuster or an independent engineering firm to represent your interests during the inspection.

### Engineers Analyze Your Claim to Verify Damage

An insurance company usually hires an engineer to verify damages related to your insurance claim when there is disagreement about coverage or the cause of damage. The insurance adjuster may not be able to differentiate between types of damage, such as hail damage versus windstorm damage or water damage versus wear and tear. An engineer can help make that determination.

The engineer will inspect the damage and generate a detailed report based on the findings. If you disagree with the engineer’s report, you may need to hire your own expert to dispute the findings or conduct further testing.

In some cases, the insurance company will share the engineer’s report with you, while in other cases, it may only be disclosed upon request. These reports often take 4 to 6 weeks to become available, so you should request a copy and review it carefully to ensure the explanations align with the damages you are claiming.

If you need help handling a dispute, consider contacting a licensed public adjuster for a free consultation.

### What is an Engineer’s Report?

An engineer’s report is a document outlining the engineer’s findings for your insurance claim.

These reports are often written in a formal, technical manner, using scientific language and jargon that may be difficult for a policyholder to understand. The report typically includes the engineer’s opinion on the cause of the damage, the extent of the damage, and whether the damage occurred suddenly or over time.

### Why the Engineer’s Report Matters

The findings in the engineer’s report can have a major impact on the outcome of your claim. Based on the engineer's conclusions, your insurance company may adjust the value of your claim or even deny it entirely.

Insurance companies, being for-profit businesses, often aim to minimize payouts. By hiring an engineer, the insurer may find a reason to deny or reduce your claim. The engineer’s report provides “plausible deniability” for the insurer, allowing them to claim they are simply following the expert’s assessment.

For example, if you file a claim for wind damage after a hurricane, the insurance company might hire an engineer to determine the actual cause of the damage. The engineer may conclude that flooding, not wind, caused the damage—leading to a denial if your policy doesn’t cover flood damage.

### Forensic Engineers and Insurance Companies: A Close Connection

Many forensic engineering firms work closely with insurance companies, which can create a potential conflict of interest. If the engineer consistently sides with the insurance company, they may secure more future business. In contrast, if the engineer sides with the policyholder, they risk losing contracts with the insurer.

This close relationship has led to accusations that some forensic engineering firms produce reports biased in favor of insurers. For example, after a disaster like a hurricane, insurers may hire forensic engineers to generate reports justifying reduced payouts or claim denials.

### Forensic Engineering Bias: Is Your Engineer Being Honest?

Although forensic engineers are theoretically neutral, some engineers may be biased toward siding with insurers. In ambiguous cases where the cause of damage isn’t clear, engineers may default to favoring the insurance company.

Not all engineers are biased, but reports of fraudulent or erroneous engineering reports have increased. After major events like Hurricane Sandy, some engineers were caught falsifying reports to help insurers deny legitimate claims.

### After Hurricane Sandy: A Real Example of Fraud

After Hurricane Sandy, numerous engineering firms were caught altering reports to favor insurers. In some cases, reports initially indicating structural damage were changed to suggest no structural damage, allowing insurers to deny claims. This widespread issue led to lawsuits and national media coverage, including an investigation by 60 Minutes.

In one case, a homeowner who had a $250,000 insurance policy received just $79,000 because the engineer’s report claimed that pre-existing structural damage, not Hurricane Sandy, caused the issues with the home. This is just one of many examples of engineering firms siding with insurers to the detriment of policyholders.

### Public Adjusters Can Help Avoid Fraudulent Engineer Reports

A public adjuster can help you navigate the complex claims process and protect you from biased or erroneous engineering reports. Public adjusters manage your claim from start to finish and work to maximize your payout. They are also experienced in reading and analyzing engineer reports, spotting errors or omissions that could negatively impact your claim.

### What to Do If Your Claim is Denied After an Engineer’s Report

If your insurance claim is denied based on an engineer’s report, you should consider hiring a public adjuster or attorney to challenge the report and appeal the denial.

In some cases, the engineer may have made a genuine mistake, while in others, the report could be biased or fraudulent. A public adjuster or attorney can help you navigate the appeals process and ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to under your policy.

### Find a Public Adjuster

If you’ve received notice of an engineering inspection, or if your claim has been denied due to an engineer’s report, contact **ClaimShield** for a free consultation with a public adjuster. Our team has extensive experience helping policyholders challenge inaccurate engineer reports and maximize their claim settlements.

By hiring a public adjuster, you can ensure your rights are protected and that you receive every penny owed to you based on the terms of your insurance contract.