Someone will rarely file an insurance claim and then be given a fair and equitable insurance settlement offer from the first interaction. The claims settlement process is just that: a process. Some people mistake a settlement offer for a flat-out settlement. The insurance company does not get the final rule, or at least not in the first round of discussions. 

An insurance settlement offer is just that: an offer. It is not a final payout nor indicative that you are being compensated for everything you should be. Remember, most insurance companies are looking out for their own best interests first and foremost. If you feel you’ve been given a low insurance settlement offer, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t satisfied with their first (and sometimes second) offer, causing them to seek insight into their options. 

At On Target Claims, we want to help make the insurance claims process easy for Florida residents, no matter what types of claims you may be dealing with. Part of that includes working with the insurance company on your behalf.

Step One: Say “No” 

If you feel that you’ve been offered a low insurance settlement offer for your Florida insurance claim, you first need to tell them that you will not accept that offer. You don’t necessarily have to counter right away, but if they call you to settle your claim and the amount isn’t what you had in mind, tell them you’d like another review of your case. 

After all, they’re giving you a value that’s based on the adjuster’s report. The person you talk to usually has little involvement in processing claims and is there to handle communications and support. They might not even know what the claim is about or what it should be worth. 

Once you’ve stopped the time clock by telling them that you do not accept the settlement, you can figure out what your claim is worth and what type of settlement you would be willing to accept. 

Step Two: File an Appeal

Insurance companies all have a formal appeals process for their claims. If you aren’t satisfied with the settlement that you are offered, you may be able to file an appeal and resolve things without escalating them much further. Make sure that when you are filing an appeal or disputing a claim settlement offer, you have evidence to back up your case and help you get the outcome you deserve. 

If the insurance company isn’t willing to help or their review doesn’t reveal anything new in your favor, you might need to escalate things a little more. How? By consulting a public insurance adjuster. 

Step Three: Get Outside Help 

The insurance company wants to help you, but they must help themselves first. Therefore, you can’t count on them to be on your side in the claims process. Even if they have the best customer support and claims processing experience, they’re still not 100% there for you. This is where a public insurance adjuster comes into play. 

An independent public adjuster knows Florida insurance laws and statutes. They know how claims work and how to maximize claim payouts. They can take a look at your estimate from the adjuster and see where they might have missed things or undervalued certain damages. They can even negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that you get what you are owed.

Public insurance adjusters work for you, and their main goal is to maximize your settlement, no matter the claim. After all, they get paid based on what you’re awarded, so the higher your settlement, the better for them. It’s also a great way to avoid going straight to a lawsuit, which is usually unnecessary in most Florida insurance claims. 

Why Shouldn’t I Hire a Lawyer?

It’s not that you shouldn’t consider hiring a lawyer to help you with your insurance claim. In fact, that’s the best course of action when an independent assessment doesn’t result in a higher payout. You can file a formal complaint with the state, hire an insurance claims lawyer, and seek legal recourse to get the compensation that you are owed. 

However, filing a lawsuit is a lot of work. It costs a lot of money and takes a lot of effort from both your attorney and you to get the best outcome in your favor. If you have tried resolving things amicably and you’re still not getting the settlement you desire, your public adjuster can negotiate with the insurance company. 

Work with the team at On Target Claims to get a thorough review of your claim and see how our experts can help you get a fair settlement. We’ll go through everything, help you understand how the settlement was determined, and then tell you what your case is worth. Of course, we don’t stop there. We’ll also work on your behalf to get exactly that for your claim and nothing less. 

The Benefits of Public Insurance Adjusters 

In addition to helping you dispute low settlements for Florida insurance claims, public insurance adjusters have several other perks to offer. Their expertise can help you easily navigate the insurance world and learn more about claims so that you’re better prepared in the future. When you work with public adjusters like the team at On Target Claims, you can enjoy:

• Dedicated Expertise: Public adjusters know Florida insurance law inside and out. They understand all of the limitations and rules, as well as submission timelines and other statutes. This can save you from learning the law independently and ensure nothing is overlooked. 
• Time Savings: Adjusters are familiar with the law and the settlement process. They can keep on the insurance company to ensure that the claim doesn’t stall along the way and do all the tedious work so that you can focus on taking care of your life. 
• Quicker Claim Resolution: With a public insurance adjuster on your side, your claim will be resolved much more quickly and effectively. Doing all the work independently will become complex and time-consuming, but a public adjuster has the tools, knowledge, and expertise you seek. 
• Protected Rights: All insurance policyholders have certain rights. Insurance companies may try to honor those, but only if it doesn’t conflict with their needs. With a public adjuster, you can trust that your rights are protected in the claims process and maximize your settlement. 

Public insurance adjusters guarantee that you get a fair value for your claim. They know how to negotiate with insurance companies and they understand the laws. This gives them leverage to fight back and demand a higher payout. They also don’t have any emotion staked in the process, which means they can negotiate better on your behalf. 

Review Everything Carefully 

Your public adjuster will help with this, but before you can dispute a claim, you must ensure that you have the evidence and documentation to back it up. Make sure that you review the claim paperwork, evidence, and other details carefully. If you suspect the low settlement offer was due to a lack of proof, consider submitting additional damage reports and photos. 

If you’ve checked everything out, you can ask the insurance company to perform a review or provide another appraisal to ensure your payout is accurate. However, contacting an independent adjuster like On Target Claims would be better. Our public insurance adjusters can independently estimate what you are owed for your Florida insurance claim. 

Then, you can compare this to what you were offered by the insurance company to see how it stacks up. If you find that your settlement offer is way lower than what they say you can get, you have cause to contest that offer. However, if you don’t have evidence to back up your claims, you will not likely get an outcome in your favor. 

What About Outright Denial?

Getting a low settlement is one thing. It gives you a starting point for negotiations if nothing else. However, many claims are initially denied for one reason or another. It could be an outright refusal or a denial based on various factors, but it does happen. If it happens to you, be sure to ask for a review or appraisal so that you know you have a claim that is actually with something. 

Denial doesn’t mean that you can’t get a good insurance settlement. It just means that you haven’t met the insurance company’s requirements to prove that you have a claim to file in the first place. If you can return and find this proof to offer, you will likely turn a denial into a settlement. 

Final Thoughts 

If you’re tired of a low Insurance settlement offer from your insurance claim, On Target Claims can help. Our team of experienced public adjusters knows the laws in Florida. We also know how to help you maximize your claim settlement, no matter what type of insurance issue you face. That kind of expertise isn’t always easy to come by. Contact On Target Claims today to discuss your insurance claim and learn more. 

Related Content: How to File an Insurance Claim for Maximum Payout After Wind Damage in Florida