Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Revenues before reimbursements	$ 277,286	$ 293,335	$ 836,863	$ 885,510
Reimbursements	18,101	16,649	47,101	55,506
Total revenues	295,387	309,984	883,964	941,016
Costs and Expenses:
Costs of services provided, before reimbursements	193,453	211,106	595,248	662,537
Reimbursements	18,101	16,649	47,101	55,506
Total costs of services	211,554	227,755	642,349	718,043
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	60,325	61,738	178,182	179,346
Corporate interest expense, net of interest income of $278 and $227 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $498 and $587 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively	2,262	2,332	7,553	6,238
Restructuring and special charges	1,488	11,078	7,431	16,383
Total Costs and Expenses	275,629	302,903	835,515	920,010
Other Income	197	217	719	701
Income before income taxes	19,955	7,298	49,168	21,707
Provision for Income Taxes	8,606	8,385	20,029	15,335
Net Income (Loss)	11,349	(1,087)	29,139	6,372
Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(404)	230	(937)	(189)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Shareholders of Crawford & Company	$ 10,945	$ (857)	$ 28,202	$ 6,183
Common Class A
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.21	$ (0.01)	$ 0.54	$ 0.14
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.20	$ (0.01)	$ 0.53	$ 0.14
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share	30,922	30,807	30,731	30,668
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share	31,665	30,807	31,200	31,156
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends Per Share (usd per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.21
Common Class B
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic (usd per share)	0.19	(0.03)	0.48	0.08
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.18	$ (0.03)	$ 0.47	$ 0.08
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share	24,690	24,690	24,690	24,690
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share	24,690	24,690	24,690	24,690
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends Per Share (usd per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.15	$ 0.15