About Us

Coast Claims, established in 1997, is an independent adjusting firm providing insurance claims and litigation support. Our home office is located in Southern California. We provide adjusting and investigative services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since our home office is located in Southern California we are able to provide our services through out the West Coast, Mexico and the South Pacific. Because we understand today’s insurance market and the need for quality service at an affordable cost we are able to meet our clients’ individual needs.

Both Bill Bernard and Bill Schneider are members of the San Diego Insurance Adjusters Association, Marine Underwriters Association of Southern California, and Propeller Club.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. We hope we can be of assistance.

Bill Bernard has over 20 years experience in the maritime liability field. He is a licensed adjuster and licensed attorney. He graduated from California Western School of Law, cum laude, in 1985. He passed the bar that summer and began practicing law, with an emphasis in Jones Act and L&H matters.

In 1990, Bill Bernard joined an independent adjusting firm where he worked nearly 12 years handling all types of claims, especially ones of potentially high exposure. While there he became one of the firm’s Senior Adjusters. In addition to managing claims, he was responsible for supervising claims handled by other adjusters. Over the years he has managed and adjusted claims involving the Jones Act, Suits in Admiralty, Maintenance and Cure, L&H, passenger injuries, vessel sinkings, docks and wharves, general liability claims, property and cargo claims, Inland Marine claims and product liability claims.

Bill also headed the Special Investigative Unit for Fraud, and the Workplace Discrimination Unit. Bill Bernard has attended numerous settlement conferences, arbitrations and mediations on Underwriters’ behalf. He has settled innumerable claims over the last 20 years.

Bill Schneider has been investigating and adjusting marine claims for the last 25 years. After serving in the Navy and being honorably discharged in 1975, Bill took a job with an adjusting firm. Through his hard work and claims savvy, he became a Senior Adjuster and was responsible for supervising and managing claims handled by other adjusters as well as handling his own case load.

Bill has managed many potentially high exposure claims, particularly those involving complex medical issues and damages. He has adjusted and settled marine claims involving the Jones Act, Suits in Admiralty, Maintenance and Cure, passenger injuries, vessel sinkings, docks and wharves, property damage claims, cargo and product liability claims. He too has attended numerous settlement conferences on behalf of Underwriters and has settled countless claims over the years.