Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues from Services:
Revenues	$ 1,122,979,000	$ 1,163,709,000	$ 1,177,588,000
Costs and Expenses:
Costs of services	808,005,000	842,167,000	850,112,000
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	242,421,000	239,840,000	239,852,000
Corporate interest expense, net of interest income of $1,290, $847, and $749, respectively	10,109,000	9,062,000	9,185,000
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges	1,056,000	19,598,000	0
Restructuring and special charges	0	12,084,000	9,490,000
Loss on disposition of business line	20,270,000	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	1,081,861,000	1,122,751,000	1,108,639,000
Other Income (Expense)	3,013,000	1,304,000	(5,708,000)
Income Before Income Taxes	44,131,000	42,262,000	63,241,000
Provision for Income Taxes	18,542,000	15,039,000	25,565,000
Net Income	25,589,000	27,223,000	37,676,000	[1]
Net Loss (Income) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	389,000	442,000	(1,710,000)
Net Income Attributable to Shareholders of Crawford & Company	$ 25,978,000	$ 27,665,000	$ 35,966,000
Class A Non-Voting
Earnings Per Share - Basic:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.53	$ 0.68
Earnings Per Share - Diluted:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.52	$ 0.67
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share (shares)	30,805	31,322	30,793
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share (shares)	31,434	32,158	31,530
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends Per Share (usd per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.28
Class B Voting
Earnings Per Share - Basic:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic (usd per share)	0.43	0.45	0.60
Earnings Per Share - Diluted:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.45	$ 0.60
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share (shares)	24,449	24,606	24,690
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share (shares)	24,449	24,606	24,690
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends Per Share (usd per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.2	$ 0.2
Service
Revenues from Services:
Revenues	$ 1,070,971,000	$ 1,105,832,000	$ 1,109,286,000
Costs and Expenses:
Costs of services	755,997,000	784,290,000	781,810,000
Reimbursements
Revenues from Services:
Revenues	52,008,000	57,877,000	68,302,000
Costs and Expenses:
Costs of services	$ 52,008,000	$ 57,877,000	$ 68,302,000

[1] The total net income presented in the consolidated statement of shareholders' investment for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 excludes $968 and $1,275 respectively, in net loss attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests.