Driving on I-10 outside of New Orleans is a lot like driving on any other highway, in that it's not uncommon to see billboards and signs vying for the attention of drivers. The only difference recently is that instead of hamburgers and gas stations, these signs are pushing lawyers and public adjusters by posing such blunt questions as, "Has your company adjuster given you a raw deal?" or "Are you dissatisfied with your insurance settlement?" Turn on the radio or television, and the same sort of marketing is even more evident.

Indeed, passing through still-devastated areas of the city reveals lawn signs on every corner that seem intent on planting the seeds of discontent in those who feel they have not received what they fairly deserved from their insurance companies. Or they could be appealing to bitter homeowners who have diligently paid premiums over the years, only to feel cheated by the settlement offered by a staff or independent adjuster. Whatever the motivation, it inevitably makes the job of the independent adjuster more difficult. But is the relationship between public and independent adjusters really so volatile?

The Good