When my neighbor finally bought the camper of their dreams, they planned to hit the road and see the United States. Unfortunately, a few weeks before their departure, a big storm came through our neighborhood, taking down trees and flooding the local rivers adjacent to our homes.
Sadly, one of the oldest and most beautiful trees on their property was knocked down and fell on the roof of their spanking-new camper. It landed on the back side of the travel trailer near the bunkhouse and bathroom. There was immediate water damage, and it could not be repaired as it was severely compromised; thus, it was unable to keep water out in the future as a direct result of the break being on a seamline. And if you know anything about campers, once there is severe water damage, it is just a matter of time before the mold spores start to grow and take over the complete unit.
Also, if you know anything about the costs of new campers, you know that my neighbors spent upwards of $50,000 on their retirement home on wheels. Thankfully, it was covered under their homeowners’ policy, but their independent insurance adjuster in Michigan appraised the destroyed camper at the current clue book value, which was at least $20,000 under what it would cost them to replace it.
This brings to mind another thing to note about campers: they dramatically decrease in value as soon as you take them off the lot, kind of like automobiles depreciate but with an even more significant loss.
What were they to do? They had their retirement planned for years, and now their dream travel trailer was totaled in one fall swoop of a severe thunderstorm. They did more research and found that a public adjuster was what they really needed.
The difference between a public adjuster and an independent adjuster is:
An ‘independent adjuster’ may at first sound like what you need, but in reality, ‘independent adjusters’ work for the insurance companies – not you. Their bottom line is to represent their employer, the insurance company. They legally represent only the rights of an insurance carrier. Independent adjusters are paid by insurance companies to adjust the claim on their behalf, whereas ‘public adjusters’ work exclusively for the insurance policyholder.
Public Adjusters help policyholders with many of the complex provisions and processes involved with a typical insurance property claim. Many claimants hire public adjusters to help document, expedite, and file their claims and to assist them through the entire process. Most importantly, they represent the policyholder to the insurance company to ensure that the claim is handled fairly, quickly, and with maximum financial restitution.
According to The State of Michigan, “In Michigan, there are three kinds of adjusters:
- Company Adjuster – a salaried employee of an insurance company who is sent by the insurer to evaluate and adjust claims.
- Independent Adjuster – an individual licensed by the State of Michigan to contract with and represent insurance companies to evaluate and adjust crop, fire and other hazards, and/or workers’ compensation losses. Many times insurance companies hire independent adjusters after a disaster due to the high volume of claims being submitted to the insurer.
- Public Adjuster (Adjuster for the Insured) – an individual licensed by the State of Michigan who offers services for a fee to policyholders who want help getting their claims paid,”.
The State went on to add that, “If you hire a public adjuster, you should be aware of your rights to cancel the contract. A Public Adjuster contract can be canceled at any time; however, the Adjuster is entitled to be paid for any work performed up to that point,”.
Is mold in a camper dangerous?
Yes, absolutely; it is 100% dangerous to have mold in a camper as it will grow quickly, infesting the walls and integrity of the whole structure.
Regrettably, I am no stranger to a camper being destroyed by water damage. Currently, my camper is being taken over by out-of-control, fast-growing mold spores. There is no repairing this type of damage. Basically, I am going to put it up for sale as a “hunter’s special” and at least get it out of my backyard.
My oldest son and I put on N95 masks, goggles, and hazmat suits to clean out all of our camping gear that could be salvaged from the infested camper. We went fast as I was so concerned about my son as he has asthma, and mold is like kryptonite to him.
With an entire family full of asthmatics, I have always been keenly aware of the toxic and dangerous conditions for people with asthma to be around. Both of my sons have asthma, with my oldest having it worse as he needs to take daily medication to breathe normally.
His little brother’s asthma is prevalent when he is not feeling well or if there are unhealthy breathing conditions, such as smoke from wildfires or black mold in our travel trailer. When these conditions arise, he needs to utilize albuterol in the rescue inhaler or with a breathing treatment where a liquid form of albuterol is used in a nebulizer.
10 warning signs of mold toxicity
Even people without respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, or cystic fibrosis will have trouble with mold or, at the very least, side effects of a toxic mold condition. Here are a few warning signs to consider:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Headaches
- Wheezing or asthma attacks
- Frequent coughing
- Hives or rashes
- Episodes of vertigo
- Diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain
- A metallic taste in your mouth
- ” Brain Fog” or trouble concentrating
- Joint pain, aches, or muscle cramps
Ok, so clearly, these symptoms could be related to a few other things, which is why it is essential to contact a professional to receive a proper mold inspection.
Furthermore, mold exposure may lead to inflammation and irritation in the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract, which could contribute to a metallic taste. The toxins released by mold can also impact the central nervous system, leading to neurological symptoms such as altered taste perception.
Difference between public adjuster and independent adjuster
In conclusion, independent adjusters work for insurance companies, while public adjusters represent policyholders to ensure fair and maximum claim settlements.