We all hear in Miami and Miami-Dade County about Hurricane Irma. We are preparing for what to do in Miami when Hurricane Irma comes. First, make sure you have your supplies. Make sure to protect your valuables and take pictures of your insurance documents. Put your treasures in ziploc and waterproof containers. Take pictures and videos of your homes, fences, sheds, guest homes, and cars inside and out.

After the Hurricane hits, the first questions you may ask is, I have Hurricane Irma damage to my home, now what? Do I need a public adjuster? Do I need an attorney? How do I handle my insurance claim? Do not get tricked into signing something that is against the law. Ask questions, get informed, don’t be afraid to talk with other people. The “Public Adjusting” (Fla. Stat. 626.854) statute states:

(10)(a) If a public adjuster enters into a contract with an insured or claimant to reopen a claim or file a supplemental claim that seeks additional payments for a claim that has been previously paid in part or in full or settled by the insurer, the public adjuster may not charge, agree to, or accept from any source compensation, payment, commission, fee, or any other thing of value based on a previous settlement or previous claim payments by the insurer for the same cause of loss. The charge, compensation, payment, commission, fee, or any other thing of value must be based only on the claim payments or settlement obtained through the work of the public adjuster after entering into the contract with the insured or claimant. Compensation for the reopened or supplemental claim may not exceed 20 percent of the reopened or supplemental claim payment. In no event shall the contracts described in this paragraph exceed the limitations in paragraph (b).

(b) A public adjuster may not charge, agree to, or accept from any source compensation, payment, commission, fee, or any other thing of value in excess of:

1. Ten percent of the amount of insurance claim payments made by the insurer for claims based on events that are the subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor. This provision applies to claims made during the year after the declaration of emergency. After that year, the limitations in subparagraph 2. apply.

2. Twenty percent of the amount of insurance claim payments made by the insurer for claims that are not based on events that are the subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor.

(c) Insurance claim payments made by the insurer do not include policy deductibles, and public adjuster compensation may not be based on the deductible portion of a claim.

(d) Any maneuver, shift, or device through which the limits on compensation set forth in this subsection are exceeded is a violation of this chapter punishable as provided under s. 626.8698.
Do not get taken advantage of. Educate yourself as to what to do when Hurricane Irma damages your home in Miami-Dade county or any county in Florida for that matter.

We, here at Silverberg|Brito, PLLC, will take your claim from start to finish. We are a full service law firm designed to handle all of your homeowner’s insurance claims needs. Whether you have Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company, or even a surplus line, we are here to help.
Whether you have a residential policy or a commercial policy, we are here to help! Insurance companies are not your friends. They have representation, so why wouldn’t you. Make sure Silverberg|Brito, PLLC is on your side to make sure you get every penny you deserve regarding your Hurricane Irma damage to your home. We are here 24/7 throughout Hurricane Irma. Never hesitate to call and we will help you as quickly as we can.

Do not be afraid to call just to get information. Be safe out there and remember, you can rebuild your homes but you cannot rebuild your lives.
~Steven Silverberg, Esq.