Question 1

My Insurance Company Hasn't Responded to My Claim. How Long Are They Legally Allowed to Take?

Accepted Answer

Florida Statute 627.70131, as amended effective March 1, 2023, sets specific and enforceable response deadlines that apply to all property insurance claims in the state.

7-Day Acknowledgment Deadline

Within 7 calendar days of receiving any written or electronic communication about a claim, your insurer must acknowledge receipt. The only exceptions are when payment is made within that period or when factors genuinely outside the insurer's control prevent a timely response. Silence does not qualify as a valid exception.

30-Day Physical Inspection Deadline

Once your proof-of-loss statement is received, the insurer must begin its investigation within 7 days. If that investigation requires a physical inspection of your property, the inspection must be completed within 30 days of receiving proof of loss.

60-Day Pay-or-Deny Deadline

Within 60 days of receiving notice of a new, reopened, or supplemental claim, the insurer must either pay the claim, deny the claim in writing, or pay the undisputed portion of the claim. If circumstances genuinely beyond the insurer's control prevent meeting this deadline, payment or denial must occur within 15 days after those circumstances resolve. Any payment made after the 60-day window carries statutory interest from the date the insurer received notice of the claim.

Question 2

What Does It Mean When an Insurance Company Acts in “Bad Faith” Toward a Policyholder?

Accepted Answer

“Bad faith” is a legal standard under Florida Statute § 624.155 that describes conduct by an insurance company that violates its duty to act fairly and honestly toward its policyholders. Insurers in Florida are required to handle claims in good faith, which means they must properly investigate claims, communicate promptly, comply with statutory deadlines, and attempt to settle claims when the obligation to pay becomes reasonably clear. Bad faith is more than a simple mistake or delay. It involves conduct that reflects an unreasonable failure to honor the insurer’s obligations under the policy and Florida law.

Examples of potential bad faith conduct include:

Ignoring calls or written communications from the policyholder
Failing to conduct a reasonable investigation before denying a claim
Delaying a coverage determination without a valid justification
Misrepresenting policy provisions
Using procedural tactics to pressure a policyholder into accepting less than the claim is worth

Under Florida Statute § 626.9541, insurers are also prohibited from engaging in unfair claim settlement practices, including denying claims without conducting reasonable investigations based on available information. When these practices occur in a manner that demonstrates a failure to act fairly and honestly, they may support a bad faith claim under § 624.155.

The consequences of a bad faith finding can extend beyond the original value of the insurance claim. If a policyholder successfully establishes bad faith, Florida law may allow recovery of damages caused by the insurer’s misconduct, not just the unpaid policy benefits, but potentially additional damages resulting from the delay or wrongful denial.

Because bad faith claims involve strict procedural requirements, including the filing of a Civil Remedy Notice and providing the insurer an opportunity to cure documented evidence of non-response, delay, or unreasonable conduct, it is critical. When an insurer’s behavior crosses from mere inefficiency into unfair or dishonest claim handling, Florida law provides a structured remedy to hold the company accountable.

Question 3

What Should I Do First If My Insurance Company Is Ignoring Me?

Accepted Answer

If your insurance company is not responding to your calls, emails, or written communications, the first and most important step is to begin creating a clear, organized paper trail immediately. Informal phone conversations and undocumented discussions leave you at a disadvantage if the dispute later escalates. From this point forward, every interaction should be documented carefully and professionally.

Communicate in writing whenever possible. If you speak with an adjuster by phone, follow up the same day with an email summarizing the conversation. Include the date, time, name of the representative, what was discussed, and any commitments that were made. This creates a contemporaneous record that cannot easily be disputed later.

Send important correspondence through certified mail with a return receipt requested. This provides proof that the insurer received your communication. Keep copies of every document you send and receive, including emails, letters, claim forms, photographs, repair estimates, and any other supporting materials related to your claim.

Maintain a written log that tracks:

Dates and times of all communication attempts
Names and titles of individuals you spoke with
Whether the insurer responded
The substance of each response

If your insurer fails to return calls, does not acknowledge written correspondence, or gives vague or inconsistent answers, those failures should be recorded in real time. Do not rely on memory weeks or months later. A documented pattern of non-response may become important if the matter progresses into a formal dispute or legal proceeding.

Question 4

What Does a Property Insurance Attorney Actually Do in a Situation Like Mine?

Accepted Answer

Most Florida homeowners have never needed a property insurance attorney before, and the idea of hiring one can feel like an escalation. It is not. It is the moment the conversation with your insurance company becomes one between equals.

Here is what actually happens when you hire our expert Florida property insurance lawyers. We start by reviewing your policy in full. Not the summary. The entire policy, including every exclusion, every condition, every deadline, and every obligation your insurer has to you. Most policyholders never read their policy in detail, and insurance companies count on that. We find that your insurer is not volunteering the coverage.

Then we take over all communication with your insurance company. You stop taking calls from adjusters. You stop answering questions that are designed to limit your claim. You stop trying to negotiate with professionals whose job is to pay you as little as possible. We handle all of it.

We bring in the experts your claim needs. Independent adjusters, engineers, contractors, and specialists who document the true scope of your damage, not the scope your insurer's adjuster decided to acknowledge. The difference between those two numbers is often significant.

We build your claim the way it should have been built from the beginning, with documentation, legal precision, and a clear record of every obligation your insurer has failed to meet. When carriers know a law firm is prepared to take a case to court, settlements become larger, and timelines shorten.

And if your insurer still refuses to pay what your claim is worth, we litigate. We have done it hundreds of times. Insurance companies know our name, and they know we do not settle for less than what our clients deserve.

Question 5

What if I've Been Waiting So Long That I'm Worried About Missing My Filing Deadline?

Accepted Answer

If that thought has crossed your mind, stop what you are doing and call an attorney today. Not tomorrow. Today. Florida law gives homeowners a limited window to take legal action against an insurance company that has underpaid, delayed, or denied a property damage claim.

Under Florida Statute 627.70132, you have one year from the date of loss to file a new or reopened claim with your insurer. Missing that deadline does not just weaken your case. It can eliminate your right to recover entirely, regardless of how valid your claim is or how badly your insurer has handled it.

Insurance companies know these deadlines exist. An unresponsive insurer is not always simply disorganized. In some cases, delay is a deliberate strategy to run out the clock on policyholders who do not know their rights or act in time. Every week that passes without a resolution is a week closer to a deadline that cannot be extended.

The good news is that if you are still within your filing window, even if just barely, an experienced Florida property insurance attorney can move quickly. We can review your claim, identify exactly where you stand on the timeline, and take immediate action to protect your rights before any deadline passes.

Question 6

What Should You Do First If Your Insurer Has Stopped Communicating?

Accepted Answer

If your insurance company has stopped responding after you filed a property damage claim, do not wait. Silence works in the insurer’s favor while your repair costs increase and legal deadlines get closer.
Your first step should be to contact Williams Law Association, P.A.
Once our firm gets involved, the claim changes immediately. Insurance companies respond differently when experienced counsel steps in. What weeks or months of ignored calls cannot accomplish, a single letter from our office often does. After you contact us, we take over communication with the insurer and move your claim forward the right way.

In the meantime, document every attempt you have made to reach your insurer. Keep a record of each call, email, and message, along with any responses or lack of response. This timeline helps establish how the insurer handled your claim.

Do not begin permanent repairs yet. Take only the steps necessary to prevent further damage but avoid rebuilding or replacing materials until the damage is properly evaluated. Both the insurer and your attorney need to inspect the property in its current condition.

If our firm cannot assist with your specific matter, but you still have a valid claim, you should still act quickly. Send a written follow-up to your insurer to create a record of their non-response, continue documenting all communications, and consider seeking guidance from another qualified property insurance attorney. Delays only benefit the insurance company.

Williams Law Association, P.A., has represented Florida policyholders for more than 30 years and has recovered more than $300 million for clients facing delays, denials, and underpayments. When an insurer stops responding, that is not just poor service; it may violate Florida law. We know how to act quickly and force a response.

Question 7

Do Insurance Companies Respond Faster When a Lawyer Gets Involved?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once a law firm becomes involved, the claim moves from an informal process to a legal one. Communication becomes structured, deadlines carry consequences, and the insurer must respond with greater urgency. Insurance companies recognize which firms are prepared to litigate. That recognition changes how they evaluate and respond to a claim.

Why Is My Florida Insurance Company Ignoring to My Claim?

How Long Can a Florida Insurance Company Legally Take to Respond?

7-Day Acknowledgment Deadline

30-Day Physical Inspection Deadline

60-Day Pay-or-Deny Deadline

What Does Bad Faith Mean and How Does It Apply to an Unresponsive Insurer?

What Should You Do First If Your Insurer Has Stopped Communicating?

What if I’ve Been Waiting So Long That I’m Worried About Missing My Filing Deadline?

Do Insurance Companies Respond Faster When a Lawyer Gets Involved?

What Does a Florida Property Insurance Lawyer Do in This Situation?