Strangest Claims and Encounters Shared by Insurance Adjusters

In a revealing thread on the "Adjusters" subreddit, seasoned insurance adjusters shared some of the most bizarre, unsettling, and downright strange encounters they’ve experienced in the field. These anecdotes, ranging from the absurd to the tragic, highlight the unpredictable nature of the job and the wide array of situations adjusters must navigate.

One adjuster was tasked with investigating a death claim at a construction site. The Safety Engineer, responsible for securing an elevator shaft, suddenly vanished during a conversation with a framer, only to be found dead at the bottom of the shaft moments later. The irony of a Safety Engineer meeting such a tragic end was not lost on the adjuster, who described the harrowing aftermath of the incident.

Dangerous situations are also a part of the job, as demonstrated by an adjuster who received a death threat from an irate policyholder in New Mexico. After being told their roof would not be covered, the policyholder ominously promised to travel to the adjuster’s state and shoot them if the claim was denied. The adjuster reported the threat to their manager, but the unsettling nature of the encounter remained a stark reminder of the risks involved in the profession.

In another tale blending humor with danger, an elderly homeowner insisted on climbing onto her roof to oversee an inspection, despite the adjuster’s repeated warnings. Armed with her own ladder, she fell 14 feet after losing her balance. The adjuster, who captured the incident in real-time, was shocked when the woman refused medical help and instead crawled back into her house, insisting that the adjuster and inspector leave once the job was done.

Some stories highlighted the strange circumstances surrounding certain claims, such as a squatter who lived with a dead body for six months before burning down the house, or a contractor who fell off a roof after allegedly being hit by a bird. In another instance, an adjuster detailed a grisly claim involving a lightning strike that killed a cow, causing its teeth to melt and its hooves to separate from its body—an image that haunted the adjuster long after the claim was paid.

These stories, while often humorous or bizarre, also shed light on the emotional toll the job can take. One adjuster shared a heartbreaking story of a couple who, while on their way to a funeral, learned their house had burned down. The couple had recently lost their son to cancer, and his cherished muscle car, stored in the garage, was destroyed in the fire. The adjuster took their statement in a diner, listening to their tearful recount of recent tragedies that added perspective to the often impersonal nature of claims work.

The thread closed with reflections on the strangest claims encountered, including a train that derailed twice into the same building, and an insurance claim where a homeowner attempted to bribe an adjuster to cover obvious long-term water damage by fabricating a story about a raccoon falling through the ceiling.

These anecdotes provide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the unpredictable and often challenging experiences that define the life of an insurance adjuster. From dealing with eccentric clients to navigating life-and-death situations, these professionals must be prepared for anything when they head into the field.