1. Document everything: After a loss, make notes of any telephone conferences or personal meetings with an insurance adjuster, agent, investigator or anyone asking you questions regarding your loss, even if you just leave a message. Keep copies of all documents provided to you by your insurer, your agent, and even your mortgage lender, including all correspondence, as well as copies of anything you send the insurer or anyone else regarding the loss.
2. Take photos…lots of them: If your claim has to do with a loss to your property or a physical injury, take as many photos as you can of the loss or damages you have suffered. No one can ever describe a loss as effectively as a photograph. During the repair, demolition, cleanup or rebuilding take more photos. You will be able to describe the effect of the loss, but nothing can make people understand the physical damage like a photograph.
3. Quick Settlement Offers: Sometimes an insurance company makes a quick settlement offer on a claim. Many times this is indicative of an incomplete evaluation and damage analysis by the carrier which results in a low settlement offer, insufficient to cover the loss actually suffered by the insured. Request documentation that shows how they arrived at the extent of damages and an explanation, in writing, of those coverages available to you under the policy for your loss. Remember that the insurance adjuster who seems eager to assist you is an employee of the insurance company and many times has the company’s best interests at heart.
4. Settlement Checks: If you are not represented by a professional who regularly “takes on” insurance companies, never accept a check that indicates that the payments are a full and final settlement or indicate a possible release of the insurance company. Before you endorse and deposit any settlement check, carefully read the back of the check. Many times the language located on the back of the check and is missed by an insured. Releasing your insurance company or cashing a check noted as "Final Payment" or "Full Payment" may eliminate your ability to recover additional damages to which you may be entitled under your policy, or which were simply not found, noticed or were ignored by the insurance company. If you are not sure what the effect of the language on the check means, seek help before signing the  check.
5. Get a copy of your policy: If you don’t already have one, the insurance company is required to provide you with a copy at your request. This document sets forth both the insurance company's rights, responsibilities and duties, as well as your own. You will need it to know your responsibilities and the acts you must do to obtain compensation or assistance under the policy.
6. Get help: After a significant loss, most people are overwhelmed. If the insurance company seems to be delaying the adjustment or payment of your claim, is taking a position that the damages are not as severe as you think, that there is no coverage for the loss or that the loss is only partly covered, these acts will only add to your frustration and confusion. The adjuster may ask for information, documents or even a sworn statement, as is their right under the policy. Don’t try to handle this alone. Get professional assistance.
7. Hire an Insurance Attorney: The layman or inexperienced may find navigating the waters of an insurance dispute filled with mines and unknown problems. Our insurance attorneys each have over 20 years experience in the insurance industry and have previously represented insurance companies, so we know their positions, arguments and tactics. We know that is not only difficult to find experienced insurance attorneys but financially difficult to hire one when you have been denied coverage or underpaid by your insurance company. For that reason, we usually provide our clients representation on a contingency fee basis where our client pays no fees or costs unless we make a recovery on their behalf.
8. Public Adjusters: Public Adjusters can assist you in making your claim, and we often recommend them. We work with a number of Public Adjusters who involve us in the claim when the insurer is denying coverage, is being unreasonable, resisting payment, refusing to recognize the full extent of damages or delaying the claim resolution. Many times we retain Public Adjusters to assist in estimating our client's losses, to act as consultants or even experts in some cases, or to work with us in appraisal.

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Brandon, Florida (813) 653-3800
Lakeland, Florida (863) 687-0780