Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	$ 297,904,000	$ 317,528,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(201,014,000)	(220,612,000)
Net goodwill	96,890,000	96,916,000
Goodwill of acquired businesses	1,164,000	1,296,000
Impairment of goodwill	(17,484,000)	0	$ (19,598,000)
Goodwill of disposed business		(19,598,000)
Accumulated impairment losses of disposed business		19,598,000
Foreign currency effects	72,000	(1,322,000)
Goodwill	299,140,000	297,904,000	317,528,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(218,498,000)	(201,014,000)	(220,612,000)
Net goodwill	80,642,000	96,890,000	96,916,000
Crawford Claims Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	55,553,000	55,994,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(20,407,000)	(20,407,000)
Net goodwill	35,146,000	35,587,000
Goodwill of acquired businesses	0	0
Impairment of goodwill	(17,484,000)
Goodwill of disposed business		0
Accumulated impairment losses of disposed business		0
Foreign currency effects	6,000	(441,000)
Goodwill	55,559,000	55,553,000	55,994,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(37,891,000)	(20,407,000)	(20,407,000)
Net goodwill	17,668,000	35,146,000	35,587,000
Crawford TPA Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	168,730,000	168,968,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(159,424,000)	(159,424,000)
Net goodwill	9,306,000	9,544,000
Goodwill of acquired businesses	0	0
Goodwill of disposed business		0
Accumulated impairment losses of disposed business		0
Foreign currency effects	4,000	(238,000)
Goodwill	168,734,000	168,730,000	168,968,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(159,424,000)	(159,424,000)	(159,424,000)
Net goodwill	9,310,000	9,306,000	9,544,000
Crawford Specialty Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	73,621,000	92,566,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(21,183,000)	(40,781,000)
Net goodwill	52,438,000	51,785,000
Goodwill of acquired businesses	1,164,000	1,296,000
Goodwill of disposed business		(19,598,000)
Accumulated impairment losses of disposed business		19,598,000
Foreign currency effects	62,000	(643,000)
Goodwill	74,847,000	73,621,000	92,566,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(21,183,000)	(21,183,000)	(40,781,000)
Net goodwill	$ 53,664,000	$ 52,438,000	$ 51,785,000