A public adjuster negotiates the claim amount; an attorney handles coverage denials and legal remedies. Knowing which problem you have points to which one you need, or whether you need either yet.
When a claim stalls, the two names people hear are “public adjuster” and “attorney.” They do different jobs. Calling the wrong one, or either one before you need it, can cost money or time. Here’s how to tell which problem you have.
What a public adjuster does
A public adjuster (PA) is a licensed professional who works for you, not the insurer, to document and negotiate the claim. PAs are useful when the dispute is about the amount and scope of a covered loss, the carrier agrees it’s covered but the estimate is low or incomplete.
PAs are licensed and their fees are regulated. In Florida, Fla. Stat. § 626.854 caps public-adjuster fees, historically at 20% of the claim payment, with a lower cap for claims tied to a declared emergency. A PA cannot practice law or file a lawsuit. Listings are on our public adjuster directory, listed by public license, not vetted, so verify credentials yourself with your state regulator.
What an attorney does
An attorney is for the problems a PA can’t touch: a coverage denial, a bad-faith dispute, or anything requiring litigation. If the carrier says the loss isn’t covered at all, that’s a legal question, not an estimating one. Attorneys can send presuit notices, file suit, and pursue statutory remedies for unfair practices or bad faith. Fee arrangements vary, some work on contingency, and in some states fee-shifting statutes affect the economics.
Or neither, at least not yet
Sometimes the right first move is neither:
- Amount dispute, coverage agreed? Your policy’s appraisal clause may resolve it without hiring anyone. See appraisal and mediation.
- Want a free neutral? Florida’s DFS mediation program is low-cost to try.
- Just underdocumented? A stronger file, using the photo protocol and sample letters, sometimes moves a carrier on its own.
Quick sort
- Covered but underpaid → public adjuster or appraisal.
- Denied, delayed, or bad-faith conduct → attorney.
- Early, fixable, or amount-only → maybe neither yet.
This is general information, not legal advice, and the right choice depends on your policy, your state, and your facts. Confirm fee caps and current statutes with your state regulator or a licensed attorney. Start at the claims hub.
General information, not legal advice, laws and policies vary and change. Confirm current statutes and your own dates with a licensed attorney before acting.