How Do Florida Attorneys and Public Adjusters Work Together?

Why Collaboration Between Attorneys and Public Adjusters Matters

Public Adjusters and attorneys are integral to protecting Florida homeowners. Public insurance adjusters and property damage lawyers often work together to help maximize the recovery of the client’s insurance claim. The Public Adjuster and the Attorney have separate but crucial roles in the insurance claim process.

A recent study found that public adjusters significantly increased the money a policyholder received from their claim.  This report found a 747% increase in insurance payouts from Citizens Property Insurance when a public adjuster was involved.  The average storm claims without a public adjuster resulted in a payment of $2,029, compared to a $17,187 payment when a public adjuster was involved.  Not limiting the findings to storm claims, data from 2004 also found a 19% increase in claim payments for daily losses. But even with a skilled adjuster, insurers can dig in their heels, make lowball offers, or deny claims outright. That’s when legal expertise becomes essential.

The Florida Advantage

Florida’s unique insurance landscape makes this teamwork incredibly potent. The state’s frequent hurricanes and strict insurance laws, such as caps on adjuster fees (10% for emergency claims and 20% for all other claims), create a system that fosters collaboration. Public adjusters know the local damage patterns and policy quirks, while attorneys leverage statutes like Florida’s bad-faith laws to hold insurers accountable. Together, they turn a daunting process into a manageable one.

Understanding the Role of Public Adjusters in Florida Insurance Claims

A Florida public adjuster is a state-licensed claims professional hired by the policyholder (not the insurance company) to inspect, document, and value damages. They negotiate with the insurer to ensure the claim reflects the full scope of the policyholder’s losses.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Conducting on-site inspections of the damage
  • Estimating repair and replacement costs
  • Preparing detailed proof of loss reports
  • Negotiating with insurance adjusters on behalf of the policyholder
  • Identifying policy coverages that are often overlooked or denied

Public adjusters in Florida work on a contingency fee basis, typically earning 10–20% of the recovered amount, and are limited in the legal tasks they can perform. They cannot file lawsuits, interpret contract law, or provide legal opinions.

The Role of Insurance Attorneys in Florida Property Claims

Florida insurance attorneys handle issues that public adjusters are legally prohibited from handling.

They intervene when the claim process becomes adversarial, including:

  • Filing bad-faith complaints or lawsuits
  • Responding to claim denials or delays
  • Handling contract disputes over ambiguous policy language
  • Suing insurers for breach of contract or underpayment
  • Representing the policyholder in appraisal, mediation, or litigation

Attorneys often get involved when the insurer refuses to pay what the public adjuster has submitted, or when complex legal disputes arise regarding coverage or exclusions.

How Florida Attorneys and Public Adjusters Work Together

1. A Team-Based Strategy

Public adjusters and attorneys are not competitors—they bring different skill sets to the table. Together, we build a stronger, evidence-based claim that’s backed by both professional damage assessments and legal leverage.

  • Public adjusters document the damage thoroughly and prepare professional estimates
  • Attorneys interpret the policy language, assert your legal rights, and push for compliance
  • Together, we present a claim the insurer can’t ignore or easily reject

This teamwork is especially valuable in complex claims, such as those involving hurricane damage, fire loss, cast iron pipe failure, or business interruption cases.

2. Pre-Litigation Negotiation Support

In many cases, we’re brought in after the public adjuster has submitted the claim, and negotiations stall. That’s when legal representation becomes essential.

  • We review the adjuster’s file
  • Identify violations of Florida insurance laws
  • Draft demand letters with legal citations
  • Threaten litigation if the insurer doesn’t cooperate

Having a lawyer involved often forces the insurer to take the claim seriously, especially if they’ve been delaying or undervaluing it.

3. Navigating Legal Deadlines and Traps

Even the most skilled public adjuster can’t protect you from legal traps in Florida’s insurance statutes. That’s where we step in:

  • Ensuring you meet the 1-year claim filing deadline (for hurricanes)
  • Preserving your rights under the Florida Bad Faith Statute (Fla. Stat. §624.155)
  • Preparing for possible appraisal, mediation, or litigation

If your claim is denied or underpaid, we can sue the insurance company on your behalf—something a public adjuster cannot legally do.

4. Claim Reopening and Supplementals

If your public adjuster helped you recover part of your claim, but new damage appears (or you believe the payout was unfair), we can work together to reopen or supplement the claim with a stronger legal posture.

Common Claims That Benefit from Teamwork

These high-value claims require meticulous attention to detail and robust legal expertise.

Legal Limits on Public Adjuster Authority in Florida

In Florida, public adjusters are not lawyers, and statutes such as Florida Administrative Code 69B-220 restrict them from:

  • Offering legal advice
  • Representing clients in court
  • Interpreting legal disputes over contract language
  • Threatening litigation or acting as legal counsel

If a public adjuster crosses these lines, they can lose their license and potentially jeopardize the claim. That’s why bringing in an attorney when legal interpretation is needed protects both the adjuster and the client.

Real Benefits for Florida Homeowners

In a state prone to natural disasters, where insurance disputes are rampant, having both a public adjuster and an attorney in your corner can mean the difference between a token payout and a full recovery. Adjusters maximize the claim’s value, while attorneys hold insurers accountable to Florida’s strict insurance laws, like those prohibiting bad-faith delays or denials.

Take Hurricane Ian in 2022: Thousands of Floridians faced claim denials from insurers overwhelmed or unwilling to pay. Public adjusters teamed up with attorneys to challenge these decisions, often turning meager offers into settlements that covered the cost of repairs and the value of A lost property. The teamwork paid off, helping homeowners rebuild when they needed it most.

Home Insurance Claim Example

Tampa homeowner whose property suffered roof damage after a storm. The insurance company offered a $10,000 settlement, claiming the damage is primarily cosmetic. Feeling shortchanged, the homeowner hires a public adjuster, who discovers that the roof’s underlayment is compromised, doubling the repair estimate to $20,000. Still, the insurer refuses to budge.

Enter our expert Florida insurance claim attorneys, who file a lawsuit citing Florida Statute 627.428, which penalizes insurers for wrongful claim denials and empowers the attorney to hold the insurance company accountable. The case settled for $35,000, which was more than triple the original offer.

This kind of teamwork is increasingly common across Florida, from Tampa to Jacksonville, as policyholders realize they don’t have to face insurance giants alone.

Florida Laws That Encourage Legal-Adjuster Cooperation

Several Florida statutes support the collaborative model:

  • Florida Statute § 626.854: Defines public adjuster roles and limits
  • Florida Statute § 627.70152: Governs pre-suit notice requirements—handled by attorneys
  • Florida Statute § 627.428: Allows for attorney fee recovery if the insurer is forced to pay through litigation

These laws illustrate why both professionals are essential to the success of a property claim: one for building the case, and the other for enforcing it.

Conclusion

In Florida’s challenging insurance climate, property owners often need the specialized skills of both public adjusters and attorneys. Public adjusters excel at accurately documenting losses and negotiating fair settlements, while attorneys provide the legal expertise to ensure insurance companies adhere to the law and honor valid claims. Together, we form a formidable team to help you achieve the best possible outcome, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: getting your home or business back on track after a loss.