There are few things more stressful for a homeowner in Orlando, FL, than suffering a major property loss from a fire, hurricane, or burst pipe. This stress is often compounded when the insurance company, which you have paid to protect you, either denies your claim or makes an offer so low it will not even begin to cover the cost of repairs. When this happens, it is easy to feel powerless, but it is crucial to understand that you have options. A denial or an underpayment is not the end of the road. A licensed public adjuster is a professional expert you can hire to fight on your behalf and navigate the complex appeals process, ensuring you get the full settlement you are entitled to.
Why Insurance Claims Are Denied or Underpaid in Orlando, FL
Understanding the Insurance Adjuster’s Role
The first thing to remember is that the adjuster sent by your insurance company is not an impartial party. They are a paid employee or a contractor whose loyalty is to the insurance company’s bottom line. Their job is to assess the damage from their company’s perspective, which often means minimizing the scope of the loss. This can lead to a settlement offer that is far less than what you actually need to rebuild your property correctly. Their initial estimate is simply a starting point in a negotiation, not a final, non-negotiable fact.
Common Reasons for an Underpaid Claim
In many cases, a claim is underpaid simply because the insurance adjuster’s inspection was rushed or incomplete. This is especially common after a major hurricane hits the Orlando, FL area and adjusters are handling a massive caseload. They may only account for the most obvious, visible damage. They often miss hidden damages, such as water that has wicked up behind drywall, smoke damage inside your HVAC system, or subtle wind damage to a roof that a trained expert will spot. Their estimates may also be based on low-cost, inferior-quality materials, not the materials of “like kind and quality” that your policy likely guarantees.
Common Reasons for an Outright Claim Denial
An insurance company may deny a claim for many reasons. A common tactic is to claim the damage was pre-existing or due to “wear and tear,” not the recent storm. They may also state that the cause of the loss, such as “flood” damage (which requires a separate policy) versus “wind-driven rain” (which is often covered), is excluded from your policy. Other common reasons for a denial include insufficient documentation from the homeowner or a failure to file the claim within the policy’s strict time limits. A denial letter can feel final, but a public adjuster can often find grounds to successfully fight it.
Your First Steps After a Denied or Underpaid Claim
Do Not Accept the Decision as Final
The most important thing to do after receiving a denial or a lowball offer is to not panic and not to accept it as the final word. You have the right to dispute the insurance company’s decision. Do not cash a settlement check that is marked “full and final payment,” as this can be seen as your acceptance of their offer and can jeopardize your ability to fight for more. The insurance company’s decision is based on their interpretation of your policy and their assessment of the damage. A professional public adjuster can provide a different, more accurate interpretation.
Review Your Denial Letter and Your Policy
Your insurance company is required by Florida law to provide you with a detailed written explanation for their decision. You must review this denial letter carefully to understand their specific reasoning. Is it a policy exclusion? Do they claim a lack of documentation? Once you understand their argument, you or your public adjuster can review your full insurance policy, a complex legal document, to see if their reasoning is valid or if they are misinterpreting the language of the contract. This is often where a Public Adjuster Orlando FL finds the leverage to fight back.
Document Everything About Your Claim
From the moment you suffer a loss, you should be documenting everything. Keep a detailed log of every phone call, email, and letter you have with your insurance company, including the date, time, and name of the person you spoke with. Take your own extensive photos and videos of the damage, far more than the adjuster might take. Get independent repair estimates from licensed contractors in the Orlando, FL area. This body of evidence will be the foundation of your appeal and is crucial for proving the true scope and cost of your loss.
How a Public Adjuster in Orlando, FL Fights for You
A Public Adjuster is Your Professional Advocate
A public adjuster is the only type of adjuster licensed by the state of Florida to work exclusively for you, the policyholder. We are your advocates and have a legal and fiduciary duty to protect your best interests, not the insurance company’s. At Claims Advocate Resolution Experts, we are experts in navigating the complex appeals process. We handle all the communication and negotiations with the insurance company, freeing you from this stressful and time-consuming burden. Our 98% success rate shows that we know how to get our clients the maximum compensation they deserve.
We Re-Open and Re-Evaluate Your Claim
When you hire us after a denial or an underpaid offer, our first step is to conduct our own comprehensive, top-to-bottom inspection of your property. We use our expertise and advanced tools, such as thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters, to find all the hidden damages the insurance company’s adjuster missed. We then build a brand new, detailed claim estimate based on the true cost of repairing your Orlando, FL home with the right materials and to the current building codes. We challenge the insurance company’s initial findings with a wealth of new, expert-level evidence.
We Manage the Entire Claim Appeal and Negotiation
Once we have built a new, comprehensive claim on your behalf, we formally file an appeal and reopen negotiations with your insurance company. We will handle all the aggressive, back-and-forth communication and will provide all the necessary documentation to counter their arguments. We are fluent in the complex language of insurance policies and know the tactics they use. Our job is to tirelessly negotiate on your behalf until we have secured a fair and just settlement that will actually cover the cost of your repairs. We operate on a “No Recovery, No Fee” basis, so we are only paid if we successfully get you more money.
The Options a Public Adjuster Can Pursue
Filing a Formal Appeal and Supplemental Claim
Your most powerful immediate option is to file a formal appeal of the insurance company’s decision. As your public adjuster, we will draft a professional appeal letter that clearly states why their denial is incorrect or why their offer is insufficient. This letter is not just an opinion; it is backed by our detailed damage estimates, photos, expert reports, and specific references to the language in your own policy that covers the loss. This formal appeal often results in the insurance company re-evaluating their position and making a new, much higher offer.
Invoking the Appraisal Clause in Your Policy
Many homeowners in Orlando, FL, do not realize that their policy likely contains an “Appraisal Clause.” This is a dispute resolution process that can be used when you and your insurance company agree that a loss is covered, but you disagree on the cost of the repairs. In this process, both you and the insurance company hire your own independent appraiser. These two appraisers then select a neutral third-party “umpire.” A public adjuster is an expert in this process and can act as your dedicated appraiser, presenting your case and fighting for a fair valuation of your damages.
Why a Public Adjuster is Your Best First Choice
While hiring an attorney and filing a lawsuit is a potential option, it should be a last resort. Litigation is extremely time-consuming and expensive. A public adjuster is a more efficient and cost-effective first step in the dispute process. We are experts in negotiation and policy, and we are often able to resolve a denied or underpaid claim much more quickly and without the need for a lawsuit. At Claims Advocate Resolution Experts, our 98% success rate is a testament to our ability to get results through this expert negotiation and documentation process.
Why You Should Never Accept an Unfair Claim Denial in Orlando
The Risk of Hidden Damage to Your Home
Accepting an underpaid claim and attempting to perform a “patch job” is one of the most dangerous financial decisions a homeowner can make. The hidden damage that your insurance company refused to pay for, such as trapped moisture behind a wall or smoke damage in your attic, will not go away. This damage will continue to fester, leading to toxic mold growth, wood rot, and structural problems that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars to fix out-of-pocket in the future. A professional Public Adjuster Orlando FL fights to ensure your claim covers all of this hidden damage.
You Have Paid for Full Coverage
You have faithfully paid your insurance premiums for years with the understanding that you would be protected in the event of a disaster. An unfair denial or a lowball offer can feel like a betrayal of that trust. You have a contractual right to be made whole again. You should not be forced to accept a settlement that will not fully and properly repair your home to its pre-loss condition. Hiring a public adjuster is simply a way of enforcing the contract that you paid for, ensuring the insurance company holds up its end of the bargain.
The Expertise of Claims Advocate Resolution Experts
At Claims Advocate Resolution Experts, we are a local Orlando, FL, company with over 25 years of combined experience in fighting for homeowners. We are led by Nader Maali, a seasoned public adjuster who is an expert in the Florida insurance landscape. We have helped thousands of clients turn their denied and underpaid claims into successful recoveries. We understand the deep stress you are under, and we are here to take that entire burden off your shoulders. We will manage your claim, fight for you, and ensure you get the maximum settlement you are legally and rightfully owed.
Nader Maali
Claims Advocate Resolution Experts (CARE)
7041 Grand National Dr Suite 214, Orlando, FL 32819
(844) 932-2731
https://uscareclaims.com/fl-claims-locations/orlando-fl/
info@uscareclaims.com
