The life of an insurance adjuster is a road with many twists and turns, each day bringing something new. As a guest in many homes and a witness to losses great and small, the experiences of our adjusters are as varied as the families they serve. On Tuesday, May 8th, Bobby Ford had a particularly memorable day, even by adjusters’ standards.

Bobby was handling a claim in the home of an insured, explaining an estimate. The insured’s 4-year old daughter was with her at the time, eating a snack.

“He was very friendly,” said the insured, “explained things to me very clearly and had a very calm, easygoing personality, which put me as the customer at ease.”

This is not a surprising description of Bobby. As a seasoned adjuster, serving with Pilot since Hurricane Charlie in 2004, he’s built a reputation for exceptional service. It’s what happened next that put Bobby’s intuition and ability to perform under pressure to the test.

"My daughter started to choke on a gummy bear. Her face got red and she started to panic, and so did I,” the mother recounted. “I was not able to dislodge the gummy bear, so Bobby acted quickly.”

In an email to his supervisor, Bobby explained: “[The insured] looked at me, so then I picked up the little girl and gave her a swift pat on the back and cleared the gummy bear from her throat. After they calmed down, I finished my explanation of the estimate and left the risk.”

The mother reflected: “I don’t know what I would have done had he not been there – he really may have saved her life...I cannot thank you enough for what he did.”

It’s the mission of our adjusters to allow for a quick recovery to our customer’s homes and property when nature strikes. On this day, Bobby Ford helped to protect something far more precious.

Pilot Catastrophe Services commends Bobby Ford for his quick thinking and grace under pressure. Bobby embodies the qualities that make a fine human being and adjuster and we’re proud to have him in our family.