On October 8, 1871, the city of Chicago caught fire. By the time the fire burned itself out a day later, 17,000 buildings had been destroyed and 250 people lay dead. The total direct loss of property was estimated at $200 million.

In order to handle the overwhelming amount of claims, insurance representatives pooled their efforts and the concept of cooperative adjusting was born.

Today, independent claims specialists handle millions of workers’ compensation, disability, property and liability claims annually. These claims represent payments of $1 billion or more each year that enable families to rebuild homes and pay bills, support employers in the continuation of operations, and assure entrepreneurs of the security of investments.

The American Association of Independent Claims Professionals ("AAICP") is an association of independent claims adjustment and third-party claims administration companies that services claims for public entities, insurance carriers, and other businesses in United States.

Members:

• GAB Robins North America has been adjusting claims in the United States since 1872. The company has nearly 2000 employees at approximately 316 locations across the U.S., including its headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey.

• Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. was founded in 1962. The company is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois and has approximately 2,500 employees in its 100 offices across the country.

• Sedgwick Claims Management Services provides claims and productivity management services to large employers throughout North America. Founded in 1971, the company operates through a network of 150 offices with over 6,000 employees.

Associate Members:

• Asurion is the leading provider of protection products and enhanced services to the communications industry. Serving millions of subscribers across North America and Asia, Asurion's success is built on quality service, relationships, integrity, and financial strength.

• Cunningham Lindsey U.S. has been serving the U.S. insurance industry for over 50 years. The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has approximately 1000 employees in its 160 branch offices nationwide.

• ESIS, Inc. was organized in 1953 and is a part of ACE USA. ESIS provides a full range of sophisticated risk management services to organizations that self insure property & casualty exposures or that purchase insurance services independently.

• National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters member firms have been approved by insurance carriers for their competency and ethical procedures as demonstrated in the hundreds of communities in which they operate.