Why delays happen
- Carrier catastrophe teams process thousands of claims in weeks
- Limited adjuster availability during the peak
- Infrastructure disruption (no power, roads blocked)
- Prioritization by severity and location
The statutory deadlines don't pause
Fla. Stat. 627.70131 requires:
- Acknowledgment within 7 days
- Inspection initiated within 30 days
- Pay/deny/explain within 60 days
Major catastrophes may trigger modified deadlines via emergency orders, but the underlying obligations remain.
What policyholders should do during the delay
Document continuously
- Weekly photos of the damage as it evolves
- Moisture readings in wet areas
- Temperature and humidity logs (mold risk)
- Any ongoing damage from delay (secondary water, wind)
Mitigate without waiting
- Temporary roof tarps
- Board-up
- Water extraction
- Mold prevention (antimicrobial treatment)
- Keep all receipts
Communicate in writing
- Written FNOL confirmation
- Written inspection-delay follow-up (at 14 days, 21 days, 30 days)
- Written deadline citation (627.70131) when approaching breaches
- Written mitigation notice so carrier can't later argue failure to mitigate
When delay becomes bad faith
Patterns that support CRN filing:
- Multiple missed statutory deadlines
- No response to policyholder follow-up
- Delay-specific prejudice (secondary damage from delay)
- Selective delay vs. other claims in the same area
Secondary-damage claims
Damage that occurred specifically because of the delay is typically recoverable:
- Mold development during inspection wait
- Structural deterioration
- Additional water intrusion
- Contents degradation
Document the timeline so the delay-caused damage is clearly attributable.