Property Insurance Claim Services in Miami

How public adjusting works in Florida

After a property loss in Florida you may hear from more than one adjuster. A company adjuster is an employee of the insurer, and an independent adjuster is a contractor the insurer hires, often after a hurricane. A public adjuster is licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services and is hired by the policyholder; of the three, only the public adjuster represents you.

What does a public adjuster actually do?

A public adjuster prepares and presents the claim on your behalf. In practice that usually means:

• Inspecting and documenting the damage, area by area
• Reviewing the policy, its limits, deductibles and endorsements
• Preparing a detailed estimate of the loss
• Communicating with the insurer and attending its inspections
• Negotiating the claim payment, including supplemental amounts for damage found later

A public adjuster does not give legal advice or file lawsuits. If a dispute needs an attorney, that is a different professional and a separate agreement.

What a public adjuster does, and when to call one

Why Miami property owners call a public adjuster

Many owners contact a public adjuster when the damage is extensive, when several parts of the property are affected, or when an estimate, a denial or a request for documents is hard to interpret. Others call before reporting the loss to understand the process. You are never required to hire one: you can handle the claim yourself or work with an attorney.

How to choose the right public adjuster in Miami

Before you sign with anyone:

• Verify the license with the Florida Department of Financial Services
• Ask who will personally work your claim; at RicardoPA that is Ricardo Arevalo, license W319359
• Get the contract in writing and ask for a written example of how the fee would be calculated
• Ask how supplements and partial payments are treated and how cancellation works; Florida lets you cancel for any reason, without penalty, within 10 days after signing

Public adjusters usually work on a contingency fee, capped by Florida law at 20 percent of claim payments, or 10 percent for claims tied to a declared state of emergency during the year after the declaration. If nothing is recovered, no fee is owed.

How much do public insurance adjusters cost in Miami-Dade, Florida?

What happens if a roof leak is left untreated?

A roof leak often starts small, but over time it can affect the structure of the property and lead to mold growth. It can also weaken an insurance claim: many policies exclude damage from constant or repeated leakage over 14 days or more, and policies ask you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Photograph the leak, protect the area and report it promptly.