Recent changes to Florida law eliminated the long-standing right of property owners to collect attorney fees following the successful litigation of an insurance claim against their insurance company. In practical terms, this made it harder for property owners to challenge an underpayment or denial of claim. Where does this leave a property owner who has encountered problems getting fully reimbursed after filing a claim with their insurance company? As a property owner, you can turn to a public adjuster or a property damage attorney for help with a problematic claim. Working with an experienced property damage attorney, however, is the best way to maximize your claim and ensure your rights are protected.
What Is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster is an individual who assists people or businesses in filing or negotiating an insurance claim. In the State of Florida, an individual must pass a written examination to obtain a public adjuster license. Attorneys, however, are exempt from the licensing requirements. You can expect a licensed public adjuster to understand the insurance claims process and have experience negotiating claims. If you work with a public adjuster, you will pay a fee based on a percentage of the value of the final claim paid out by the insurance company. If a public adjuster is unable to negotiate an acceptable settlement with your insurance company, the adjuster should refer you to an attorney to initiate a lawsuit.
Listen to Paul and Jason discuss this case on the LiveFeedReed podcast
Why Is Working with a Property Damage Attorney a Better Choice?
A property damage attorney is a licensed attorney who effectively provides the same services as a public adjuster, but who also can pursue a lawsuit against the insurance company if the claim cannot be resolved outside of court. If a public adjuster is unable to successfully negotiate the full payment of your claim, the adjuster’s only recourse is to refer you to a property damage attorney to initiate legal action against the insurance company. Knowing that they cannot represent you in a lawsuit, a public adjuster may be hesitant to suggest litigation. Instead, they may encourage you to accept a settlement for less than the full value of your claim.
At Reed & Reed, we are now accepting property damage claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning our fee is 20 percent of what we collect for you. Our fee structure is the same whether we reach an out-of-court settlement or litigate the claim and win at trial. Working with an experienced property damage attorney from the start ensures that all options for resolving your claim for the maximum amount possible remain open to you without wasting valuable time or incurring additional fees.
How Can the Team at Reed & Reed Help with Your Florida Property Damage Claim?
If you have filed a property damage claim with your homeowner’s or business owner’s insurance company, and your claim has been delayed, undervalued, or denied, it is in your best interest to consult with the team at Reed & Reed as soon as possible.
We will conduct a FREE property inspection and prepare an initial damage assessment, after which we will engage in a FREE review of your policy documents to determine if any exclusions or deductions apply to your claim. After analyzing your policy and claim documents, we will initiate a FREE consultation with you to discuss your legal options and answer any questions you may have.
Contact the team at Reed & Reed online or by calling 844-668-7227 today so we can get started advocating for you and your rights at no cost to you unless your claim is paid.