Policyholders across the state of Florida are expecting to have the home damage caused by Hurricane Milton paid for by their home insurance or special hurricane insurance coverage. Unfortunately, people are having a lot of trouble with the claims process, and many claims are being denied.
When trouble with insurance claims arises, many people hire licensed public adjusters to come in and help them seek a fair payout. Unfortunately, many Florida residents with properties affected by Hurricanes Milton in October and Helene in September are finding that insurance adjusters cannot help with their claims.
A Newsweek report, citing data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR), revealed that home insurers in Florida have denied tens of thousands of claims for damages from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. As of October 25, 19,068 out of 57,415 residential claims related to Hurricane Helene were closed without payment. Similarly, as of October 28, 27,834 out of 202,989 claims for Hurricane Milton damages were also closed without payment. In both cases, denied claims exceeded those closed with payment.
A hurricane damage claims attorney may provide more targeted help than an insurance adjuster for Florida property owners struggling with their Hurricane Milton damage claims. Hurricane claims attorneys can offer legal advice and address some problems that adjusters cannot. Rather than pay once for an adjuster and again for an attorney, save yourself time and money and hire the right person to handle your claim the first time.
What Is A Public Insurance Adjuster?
Public adjusters are sometimes hired by insurance policyholders when they file a claim. While the insurance company has its own staff adjusters, public adjusters are not associated with the insurance company. People with property insurance claims may hire a public adjuster because they do not trust the insurance company’s adjuster to make an honest settlement offer.
Unfortunately, after large storms like Hurricane Milton, many insurance companies act in bad faith and try to deny claims without basis or offer a lowball settlement amount. The point of hiring a public adjuster is to hold insurance companies accountable for fully paying to repair damages to your property.
An adjuster can look at your property and assess how much the damage will cost to fix properly. In theory, you can use the amount they come up with to make sure that your insurance company does not short you.
What Do Public Adjusters Do To Help With Hurricane Insurance Claims?
Most people are aware of insurance adjusters who work for the insurance company. These people are employed by your insurance company to assess damage to your property and make a monetary offer on behalf of the insurance company. Of course, insurance adjusters employed by the insurance company might offer a lower amount of money. This is why some people hire independent adjusters.
Independent insurance adjusters, also called public adjusters, do the same thing as your insurance company’s adjuster — only they are not incentivized to value the damage at a lower amount. Independent adjusters charge a contingency fee, usually around 10% of the settlement amount.
Public Adjuster vs. Insurance Attorney: What’s The Difference?
While independent insurance adjusters might seem like a good option for getting the most out of your claim, they only work in certain situations. Insurance adjusters can’t do anything if your claim is denied or if the insurance company argues that you do not have coverage. They can only try to get you the most out of an existing claim.
A better option may be an insurance claims attorney. Practitioners of insurance law can help you in the case that an insurer denies your claim or argues that the damage is not actually covered.
How Can A Public Adjuster Help With My Hurricane Milton Insurance Claim?
Public insurance adjusters can help you get the most out of an existing insurance claim. If the claim is denied or there is another issue, they have no legal power.
Many people in Florida are finding that their Hurricane Milton claims are being denied because the insurers are arguing that the damage is flood damage, which is not covered. In these instances, you need a hurricane claims attorney to help you fight for compensation.
What Is The Issue With Hiring A Public Adjuster For A Property Damage Claim?
Because public adjusters work on a contingency fee, it may seem like a no-brainer to hire one. Unfortunately, many homeowners who hire public adjusters are finding that their claims are taking a long time to process, only to be denied down the road.
When your claim is denied, your only remaining option is to hire an insurance claims attorney to file a lawsuit or seek compensation from the insurance company.
Rather than wait for months only to have your claim denied, it is much more efficient to hire an attorney upfront. Most insurance claims attorneys, including the esteemed legal team at Florin|Roebig, also work based on a contingency fee — meaning that you can only benefit from hiring one if your claim is denied.
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Top Benefits Of Hiring A Florida Insurance Lawyer For Your Hurricane Claim
Hiring an insurance claims attorney has many benefits. First and foremost, for people who have had their claims denied or are experiencing issues with their claims, an attorney is one of the only options for holding your insurer accountable.
Anyone experiencing issues with their insurance claim, such as adjusters not answering the phone, lowball settlement offers, and denied claims, can benefit from hiring an insurance claims attorney.
After Hurricane Milton, many insurers are saying that their hurricane insurance policy does not cover flood damage. If you are experiencing this issue, reach out to Florin|Roebig for legal advice today.
Insurance Adjuster vs. Attorney FAQs
Keep reading to get the answers to commonly asked questions regarding hurricane insurance claims and whether to hire an adjuster or an attorney.
Is Hiring An Insurance Adjuster A Good Idea?
While hiring an insurance adjuster can sometimes be helpful in getting the most out of your claim, an adjuster cannot help you seek compensation for a denied claim, or help you with other issues that arise.
Rather than hiring an adjuster and having to hire an attorney later, do it right the first time and hire an experienced lawyer.
What Percentage Does A Public Adjuster Charge In Florida?
Adjusters in Florida make their own rates, but most charge around 10% of the settlement offer.
How Do I Know If A Public Adjuster Or An Insurance Claims Lawyer Is Right For Me?
Many Florida residents are hiring public insurance adjusters, only to find that they need to seek help from an insurance claims law firm down the line.
An insurance claims attorney can help you get a higher settlement amount, but they can also help you in the case that your claim is denied or other issues arise.
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Get Timely Help With Your Homeowners Insurance Claim Today
If your home or business has been damaged in Hurricane Milton, you may not be able to rely on your insurance company to fully pay for damages. The attorneys at Florin|Roebig law firm have years of experience helping people just like you get the payout they deserve.
If you believe your insurance company is wrongfully denying or underpaying your Hurricane Milton claim, contact Florin|Roebig today to learn more about our services or to schedule your free consultation.
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