An independent catastrophe adjuster assesses insurance claims after a disaster. As an independent adjuster, you function as a contractor, so you investigate each insurance claim on a freelance basis, and you are not an employee of an insurance firm. Your duties include traveling to the site of the disaster to assess the damage. You perform research to see if the policy that your client sold to the owner covers the damage. Your responsibilities also include negotiating a settlement with the policy-holder. Your job often involves climbing onto roofs or into small spaces to assess loss and estimate repair costs.