Dealing with an insurance claim can feel like a second disaster.

Whether it’s damage to your home or your car, the claims process often adds stress to an already difficult situation. Between adjusters, repair estimates, and dense policy language, it’s easy to feel like you’re on your own—especially if it’s your first major claim. Most people don’t know what they’re truly entitled to, and it’s not always clear whether the settlement being offered is fair. Friends and family may sympathize, but they’re usually not experts. So what do you do when you just want to get your life back to normal—but don’t want to get shortchanged along the way?