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Public adjusting in the United States is almost as old as insurance itself. In 2003 there were only 678 licensed public adjusters in Florida and in 2009 there were over 2,914 licensed public adjusters in Florida. This shows that the public adjusting industry is thriving due to the need for advocates on insurance claims.

The longer a claim goes, the longer your insurance company can get returns on the money they have invested, which nets them a lower claim payout. Our goal is to settle your claim for everything you are entitled to as soon as possible.

No, we will handle all the meetings and we will talk directly to your insurance carrier to negotiate a proper settlement.  However, we will not stop you from talking to your insurance company.

Retention – We will sit down with you at no cost and discuss your options. We will evaluate your current position and make a plan on how to navigate the claim that fits you. Once we are retained, we will reach out to your insurance company and notify them of our involvement. We will set up the necessary meetings and take charge of all communications.

Document Gathering – In many states, the burden of proof is on you, the policyholder. This means it is your responsibility to prove what is damaged and what you are entitled to. We employ a team of structural engineers, industrial hygienists, expert estimators, professional photographers, forensic accountants, and forensic loss consultants. After a loss, we deploy the team needed to document and preserve your loss. We will take 3D images of your loss, photograph, inventory, and build an estimate of the damages to your building and personal items. We will start documenting any time element coverages you incur, which may be business interruption or additional living expenses.

Negotiation – There are three steps to negotiating an insurance claim: coverage, scope, and price.

1. Coverage is determining whether your policy covers the cause of loss and or the items damaged.

2. Scope is what is the extent of damage to the covered items. An example is our documentation showing an item needs replaced, and the insurance company wants to clean it.

3. Prices are how much the cost of repair or replacement is going to be. The insurance company could agree that something needs to be replaced, however, they may say it is only worth $5 and our documentation shows it’s worth $10.

We successfully negotiate hundreds of large loss claims a year. We are up to date on current construction practices, policy language, and delay tactics to underpay, which are always changing. We know what you are entitled to and how to receive it. Negotiating without experience is like learning on the job, and that is disastrous against an insurance company that handles billions of dollars worth of claims a year.

Alternative Dispute Resolution – In the case your insurance company refuses to pay what you are entitled to, there are options to force the carrier to reconcile their debts. Litigation has its place and we are not bashful when the situation arises to go there. However, there are other options. In dispute resolution, it is imperative that you do a thorough job logging the claim and documenting your claim so that an appraiser, mediator, umpire, and or attorney has an accurate picture of what happened, and the damage inflicted.

1. Appraisal – The appraisal process is for disputes arising from scope and price. In appraisal, a panel of 3 is formed, each side has 1 representative and the 3rd is picked mutually or by the court. A decision from the panel is binding and typically needs to be paid in 60 days.

2. Mediation – Not all states have mediation, however, Florida does. In mediation, the state assigns the mediator and all parties meet in a location close to the loss. Meditation is only binding in Florida if both parties agree.

Litigation – Litigation is, unfortunately, a necessary evil. A renowned attorney once told me “Litigation is not a fast process, but it is a good process”. We typically recommend the retention of an attorney when a claim is denied coverage, the carrier refuses to go to appraisal, or when the carrier has not handled a claim in good faith.

Once payment is issued you will be on the fast track to moving your life forward. Our goal is to move your claim as fast as possible so that you can reconcile what you lost and get your life back on track.

No, in most states contractors are not allowed to negotiate on your behalf. Be wary of any contractor that states they can negotiate your claim for you, and be wary of any contractor that states they have a direct relationship with your insurance carrier.

Yes, we handle all of the paperwork. We will handle the proofs of losses, estimates, demands, letters, emails, reports, and any other document that may arise. We keep very detailed records of all of your claims and can present the whole claim to you at any point to see. Most states require public adjusters only to keep your claim paperwork for several years however we will keep your claim information for you forever.

Yes, from start to finish, we will handle every aspect! We will make this a painless and smooth process for you.

Attorneys litigate and adjusters adjust. The legal system is great, however, it is often a long system. Adjusters specialize in claim documentation, estimating, and claim preparation. Attorneys do not typically put claims together, they often hire public adjusters or consultants to put the claim together. Our goal as public adjusters is to avoid the long and costly litigation process and bring your claim to resolution.

Every claim and insurance company is different. However, Citizens Insurance Company did a study and found that “For non-catastrophe claims, policyholders who used public adjusters received an estimated $9,379 on their claim, compared to $1,391 for those policyholders that did not use a public adjuster (a difference of 674%)

We do not charge anything upfront and cover all reasonable costs to handle your claim. We charge a percentage off of the claim and we do not get paid until you get paid.