One of the responsibilities of owning a home or commercial property is protecting it with the appropriate insurance. In Florida, that usually means purchasing separate flood insurance and homeowner’s insurance. You may also pay higher premiums to cover specific issues. At the end of the day, you probably chose your insurance company and policy because you expected good service if you ever needed to use your coverage.
In some cases, policyholders are pleased with the insurance company’s response to their claims. But in many other situations, the homeowner finds that their insurance carrier is not as helpful as expected. Some common issues that you might run into include the following:
Knowing what to do next can be confusing. Some policyholders wonder if they should call a lawyer or sue the insurance company. Lawyers can be helpful in many situations, but they are costly, and the court costs for filing a lawsuit could also cost hundreds of dollars. With property damage disputes, resolving the situation without spending a fortune on attorney’s fees and court costs is usually possible. The best way to start is to consult a Florida public adjuster.
In the same way that your insurance company sends an adjuster to estimate your property damage, you can also hire your own public adjuster to carefully inspect the damage.
But why would you want to do that when the insurance company already has an adjuster? This is a common question. The answer is that the insurance company’s adjuster will always do what’s best for the insurance company, which often means reducing costs as much as possible. Frequently, insurance adjusters underestimate how much damage a property or structure has sustained. They might recommend minor repairs when the damage dictates a complete replacement of a fixture. Sometimes, the discrepancy becomes apparent when the homeowner starts gathering contractor quotes. Additionally, insurance adjusters love finding loopholes in their policies that allow them to claim that certain repairs or types of damage aren’t covered.
But a public adjuster is tasked with doing what’s best for you, which means getting the insurance company to pay for all your damage. The public adjuster will attentively assess your damage, covering all details and listing every issue. Next, they will read your insurance policy to anticipate potential objections from the insurance carrier. Unlike the average person, public adjusters are highly-trained professionals who know what to look for in an insurance policy. They can help if you have questions about what a clause really means or if the insurance adjuster is interpreting it correctly.
Once the public adjuster has a clear picture of your damages and policy coverage, they will create a claim or re-submit it if you’ve already received a settlement or offer. This means that you don’t have to struggle with filling out forms and hoping you don’t make a mistake. Your adjuster will handle this for you, and their expertise allows them to establish the best possible odds of successfully collecting on your claim.
After the claim is filed, your public adjuster will continue to support you, answering questions for the insurance company or negotiating with them for better coverage. For many policyholders, it’s a relief to focus on other aspects of their lives instead of responding to constant requests from the insurance carrier.
The good news is that you don’t have to pay any fees immediately, which can be helpful if you’re struggling with expenses after a natural disaster or another event that damaged your home. A public adjuster works on contingency, taking a fee out of the eventual recovery from the insurance company. You owe nothing until the adjuster has recovered a settlement.
Fees vary, with more experienced adjusters charging a little more for their additional expertise, education, and training. Florida law places a ceiling of 20 percent on public adjuster fees, so they can’t charge more than that. In certain situations where the governor has declared a state of emergency, such as hurricanes or widespread flooding, the ceiling is lowered to 10 percent for all claims related to that event.
Often public adjusters go door-to-door soliciting after a natural disaster, especially if this event has hit your neighborhood hard. If you have more individual property damage, such as after a fire in your home, you can quickly locate a number of public adjusters with a web search. But it’s essential to research the adjuster or adjusting firm to ensure they fit your needs. Here are some crucial questions to answer before you choose a public adjuster:
At Pinnacle Claim Services, we know that dealing with damage to your home or office can be stressful and time-consuming, and our goal is to make the process as easy as possible while achieving a fair settlement. We hire only the most experienced and well-informed adjusters, who are prepared to provide you with references. We invite you to read our reviews and ask your friends or neighbors who have worked with us what they think.
We can assist you with multiple categories of property damage claims, including fire damage, flood damage, weather or water damage (including hurricanes and tornadoes), mold damage, and theft or vandalism cases. Your claim evaluation is always free, and if you retain our services, you don’t owe us anything until we settle your claim, so please contact us today to learn more.
Living in South Florida, we are no strangers to natural disasters.
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When disaster strikes, it can be difficult knowing where to turn or who to ask for help. Pinnacle Claim Services’ professional team of Florida public insurance adjusters and support experts are here to assist you throughout every step of your damage claim from emergency services and mitigation through final settlement.
Some of the most common issues people experience with insurance companies after property damage has occurred and a claim has been initiated include: unreasonable delay on the part of the insurance company, inadequate training of the insurance company’s adjusters and adjusters that are “so busy” that your claim gets zero attention and does not progress towards resolution. Additionally, you may not have the appropriate policy with the right type of coverage or limits.
There is no set time period for settling a property damage claim with an insurance company and each claim is different. You could receive a check in a few days or it could be a few weeks. Also, it may take multiple rounds of negotiations and payments for you to be adequately and justly compensated for your claim.
Absolutely not. Some companies do possess better reputations than others and there are some who consistently delay the process unnecessarily. It’s important that you comply with your “duties after the loss” (duty to mitigate etc.) Call us, we can help!
Pinnacle Claim Services will request a copy of your policy, file the proper paperwork for you, put together a comprehensive estimate of damages and negotiate a fair settlement Do not become emotionally burdened. Do not be denied money for repairs you deserve. Rely on Pinnacle Claim Services to work on your behalf, keeping you informed throughout every step of the process to get every penny you deserve from the insurance companies.
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