adjusters

Adjuster is a term used for both people who determine appropriate outcomes and for components that make precise changes to a setting. In common usage, the word is most often associated with insurance, but it can also describe various mechanical parts that alter tension, position, or calibration.

In insurance, an adjuster investigates and settles claims on behalf of an insurer, a policyholder, or a specialized firm. Types include staff adjusters employed by insurers, independent adjusters contracted to handle claims, and public adjusters who represent the insured. Core duties typically involve inspecting properties or vehicles, interviewing claimants and witnesses, reviewing policy terms, estimating damages or losses, preparing claim reports, and negotiating settlements. The work follows standardized processes: claim filing, assignment, investigation, evaluation, settlement, and, when necessary, coordination with attorneys or appraisers. Licensing and professional ethics are common requirements in many jurisdictions, with rules governing confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and dispute resolution.

Outside insurance, an adjuster can be a mechanical device that enables fine tuning. Examples include screw, lever, or knob mechanisms used to change tension, alignment, or calibration in machinery, electronics, bicycles, cameras, and furniture. These adjusters are typically small components designed for periodic adjustment or for quick setting changes, and they may be integrated as modular parts or replaceable elements.

Terminology and applications vary by field, but the underlying idea is the same: an adjuster facilitates a deliberate, controlled modification to a system or a claim outcome.