Why Choose a Lawyer Over a Public Adjustor?
If you have suffered property damage after a hurricane in Florida, then you will have to file a claim with your hurricane insurer. To do so, you could hire a public adjuster to represent your claim, but there are significant advantages to hiring a Florida hurricane lawyer instead.
What is a Florida public adjuster?
A Florida public adjuster is someone who can legally represent your rights in a property insurance claim. They are licensed and authorized to do so by the State Department of Insurance. Generally, a Florida public adjuster will:
- Review your policy to determine your coverage;
- Appraise the damage;
- Prepare an estimate and other necessary documentation; and
- Negotiate your payment with the insurance company’s adjuster.
For their services, a Florida public adjuster will charge you a percentage of the settlement.
But you may be better served by hiring a Florida hurricane lawyer.
How can a Florida hurricane lawyer help?
First of all, lawyers are professionals when it comes to negotiating. They are trained to handle the terms of settlements, and they do so on a regular basis. This is why insurance companies have lawyers working for them. It also provides you with an expert’s understating of the most current insurance laws.
Secondly, a public adjuster does not have the ability to file an insurance claim lawsuit. Insurance companies know this, which makes them more likely to offer a lower estimate to an adjuster. And because an adjuster will only get paid if their client receives compensation, an adjuster is more likely to accept a low settlement offer instead of taking the time to fight for a fair amount.
A Florida hurricane lawyer, on the other and has the ability to file a lawsuit if the offer is not enough. Therefore, an insurer will generally offer a lawyer better settlement terms.
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