In many respects, the person who has suffered the damage or the injury is at a disadvantage when it comes to dealing with their insurance company. Having requisite cover in the first place is only the start of the process of recompense - maximising the effectiveness of the policy is another matter altogether. Indeed, many injured parties may feel themselves at the mercy of the loss adjuster, who is the representative of the insurance company whose report will form the basis of the size of the claim in the event of damage or loss of property. The loss adjuster is a professional - most people who are in the position of trying to settle a claim are not.

But help is at hand - and, as of January 1 of this year, it is the statutory responsibility of the insurance industry to make people aware of a dedicated form of assistance.

Loss Assessors are essentially the mirrors of loss adjusters, except that they work for the general public (or for companies and corporations). It is the loss assessor's function to scrutinise a policy, and to estimate the cost of damages and reparations, so that his or her client can obtain the maximum amount of cover possible form their claim. But, despite the existence of loss assessors, it has been estimated that five out of every six claimants enter into a claims process without the assistance of a loss assessor.

It might seem unusual, given the fact that adjusters and assessors are essentially flip sides of the same coin, but there is generally a good working relationship between loss assessors and loss adjusters - possibly because both are professionals working in the same industry, and possibly because many loss assessors are former loss adjusters. But it is this working relationship that allows the process to function well, in that it allows both sides to smooth out what might have been a tough, and occasionally acrimonious, deal between an insurance company and an individual claimant.

Indeed, it is hardly surprising that there are often difficulties between insurance companies and individuals, given the fact that, often, there are major discrepancies between what the adjuster feels is appropriate cover, and what the assessor has put in a claim for. But, by employing the services of a professional familiar with the system, people can usually make it easier and more expeditious for a settlement to be reached.

While assessors have been in place for a number of years, the reality is that many in the general population have been unaware of their existence.

But that should all change as of the beginning of this year, with the financial regulator insisting that insurance companies advise their clients of the reality of loss assessors once they are in receipt of a claim. Whether people choose to use the services following this information remains to be seen, but the reality is that cost should not be a factor - as long as the claim is for more than Euro500, it is reasonable to assume that the difference that a loss assessor can make to the value of the claim should offset the fees charged by the profession.

One of the major reasons why many people with insurance lose out on the full value of their claims is not down to a discrepancy in the valuation of the cost of works to repair any damage. It is down to the policy itself. In many respects, an insurance policy is a complicated financial document, and who actually takes the time to read over these documents fully? It is certainly the case that a document is not best reviewed at a time of stress - such as coping with loss of property. This is where the assessor can begin his or her work.

"One of the first things that we do is to look over our clients' policies, " said loss assessor Emma Murphy. "We look at any conditions or endorsements, and we check that they have been adhered to. People generally don't fully read their policies, so it is our function to interpret the policies to maximise the benefits to our clients."

For example, people can often miss some valuable elements to their policies, such as the fact that the insurance company will provide for alternative accommodation in a similar property (assum-