CLAIM DOCUMENTS

LETTER OF REPRESENTATION is a contractual agreement between the policyholder and a public adjuster. This allows us to fully communicate, request documents, negotiate the loss and meet with the insurance company on your behalf. Without this document the insurance company is not allowed to communicate with us. REQUEST OUR REPRESENTATION

ESTIMATES are commonly exchanged between us and the insurance company. They are typically created using an estimating software, such as Xactimate, which should have the most up-to-date labor and material costs for your specific location. We breakdown the labor and material costs into line items to fully and accurately determine your recovery. It is common for insurance companys to leave off necessary items and code requirements which we include. Estimates often increase due to additional needed repairs and code requirements which were not included previously, called supplements. Large complex jobs may require specialized estimators from engineers, advisors and contractors and should be organized by a licensed professional.

A PHOTO REPORT is an organized detailed compilation of photos which document and tell a story of the damages at the property loss location. It is very important to have an experienced adjuster document all visual details using professional equipment such as measuring equipment, scanners, moisture meters and more. The photo report outlines visual damages and scope of work required to complete the job which should be inline with the estimate figures. 

A DETERMINATION LETTER is a letter which should be provided by the insurance company for every claim. This letter should include one or more of the following: a breakdown of payment(s), estimate(s), full or partial denial(s), coverage determination and any stance the insurance company is taking. It is important to have a determination letter to understand the right direction for your claim; by Florida Statutes, the insurance company has 90 days to complete an investigation and provide a determination letter. Already have a determination letter? UPLOAD HERE FOR REVIEW

An ENGINEER REPORT or other reports are reports created by a licensed entity on their opinion of the causation of damage being claimed. It is common for opinions to differ from the insurance company’s reports. These reports are used to fully diagnose and determine the causation of damages and can assist in your case.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

A PROOF OF LOSS is a notarized legal document which should be submitted for every claim. This document totals the estimated dollar amount for repairs, outlines coverage amounts and sets a timeframe for the insurance company to respond and investigate your claim. Often the insurance carrier can request a sworn statement in proof of loss which common policies in Florida require the document to be completed and submitted to them within 60 days of their request or you may not receive any payment for your claim! By Florida Statutes, once submitted, the insurance carrier must review and acknowledge receipt within 14 calendar days.

A RELEASE is a settlement document, typically put together by a legal representative, which offers an agreed final settlement dollar amount. If the policyholder agrees the insurance company typically require a notary signature before payment. Once completed the insurance company is no longer responsible for any further supplementation or payments on that particular claim. Public Adjusters and Attorneys commonly receive release settlement agreements for their policyholders.

CIVIL REMEDY NOTICE  may be filed by the policyholder or an attorney representative, which is a type of civil complaint, with the Florida Department of Financial Services (FDFS) when the insurance company is acting in bad faith. The insurance company will have 60 days to respond and cure any allegations in the Civil Remedy Notice; they may be willing to offer full settlement for your claim even when it was previously denied. Your licensed Public Adjuster may still negotiate your claim when a Civil Remedy Notice is filed.

LAWSUIT is filed by an attorney and your case is presented to a judge and jury. Insurance carriers often settle claims prior to trial to keep court costs down depending on the size of the claim. Attorney’s fees can range from statutory hourly fees, billed directly to the insurance company, or they can charge a percentage of the homeowner’s settlement. If you choose to go to litigation, we recommend researching and choosing an attorney with proper experience to represent you. It is important to have a determination letter and relevant documentation for your attorney to review your case. With most lawsuits, it can take 6-18 months or longer to settle or go to trial.