Long Island Public Adjusters Releases Settlement Data: Rejected First Offers Were 574% Below Final Settlements

SMITHTOWN, N.Y. — September 17, 2026 — Long Island Public Adjusters today released settlement data from 59 property insurance claims settled between August 2025 and September 2026. In these claims, policyholders rejected the insurance carriers' first offers before securing final settlements that averaged 574% more. The claims — spanning house fires, water damage, storm damage, and other covered losses across Nassau and Suffolk counties — recovered more than $3.5 million for policyholders.

Across the 59 settlements, the average final settlement was $59,573 and the largest single settlement was $720,693. The carriers' initial offers were rejected before the claims ultimately settled following additional documentation, negotiation, and, where necessary, appraisal.

"The first offer is a starting point, not an answer," said Kevin Godfrey, licensed New York public adjuster (License No. PA-1156995) and founder of Long Island Public Adjusters. "Most homeowners don't know they can negotiate, don't know what their policy actually covers, and don't have the time to fight a carrier's estimating department. That gap between the first offer and the real number is exactly what a public adjuster exists to close."

The data reflects only completed, paid settlements; open claims and withdrawn drafts were excluded. Settlement amounts are final carrier payments to policyholders, documented between August 2025 and September 2026.

Godfrey noted that the pattern holds across claim sizes. "It's not just the six-figure fires. A $20,000 water damage claim gets lowballed the same way a $700,000 fire does. The difference is most people accept the small ones without questioning them."

Long Island Public Adjusters works on a contingency fee of 6–12% of the final settlement, on a sliding scale — larger claims are charged a lower percentage. The firm offers free claim reviews for Long Island and New York City policyholders, including second looks at claims that have already been settled, underpaid, or denied.

About Long Island Public Adjusters: Long Island Public Adjusters represents homeowners and business owners — never insurance companies — in property insurance claims across Long Island and the five boroughs of New York City. With more than 22 years of experience, the firm handles fire, water, flood, storm, mold, vandalism, and commercial claims from first notice of loss through final settlement. Kevin Godfrey is licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services (License No. PA-1156995). For more information, visit https://longislandpublicadjusters.com.

Media contact: Kevin Godfrey, Long Island Public Adjusters, 34 E. Main St., Ste 347, Smithtown, NY 11787; 516-410-0164; liadjusters@gmail.com.