One of the first people you’ll have to handle after a storm, fire, or flood destroys your property in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the insurance adjuster. Though they might appear professional and beneficial, keep in mind: insurance adjusters serve the insurance company rather than you. Knowing your rights as a homeowner can help you avoid a lowball payment in favor of a reasonable settlement.
What Every St. Petersburg Homeowner Needs to Know When Working With Insurance Adjusters
1. You Have the Right to Record Everything
Before the adjuster arrives, capture your interior and external damage images and movies. Prepare a thorough inventory of damaged property, personal goods included. Having your paperwork helps you not to depend just on the adjuster’s report, which might not fully represent your losses.
2. You Are Under No Compulsion to Accept the First Bid
Many times, starting with a low settlement offer, insurance adjusters hope homeowners will accept swiftly. You are not required to agree with the initial quotation. Analyze their offer in depth and match it against contractor estimates or your repair analyses. You may and should question the numbers if they disagree.
3. Hire either a Public Adjuster or an Attorney.
You don’t have to battle the claims procedure by yourself. Not the insurance firm, public adjusters stand for you. Licensed experts who assess your damage and bargain for you to get a bigger payout. Should your claim be rejected or underpaid, a property insurance attorney might assist you in filing an appeal or even bring legal action if necessary.
4. You Are Entitled to Comprehend Your Policy
Florida law mandates that insurance companies, on demand, furnish a copy of your entire policy. Review of your cover, exclusions, and restrictions is proper. Let no adjuster misunderstand your policy. Get a second opinion if anything appears off, especially if the adjuster claims something “isn’t covered.”
This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of Jenkins Law P.L. Kelly-Ann is an auto accident attorney in St Petersburg. She focuses on personal injury, car accidents, and bicyclist injuries. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations, or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision that should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your situation.
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