What a public adjuster does
- Documents damage and prepares Xactimate estimates
- Submits and manages claims
- Negotiates settlements
- Advances through appraisal, mediation, CRN
- Coordinates with counsel when litigation is needed
What an attorney does
- Litigates coverage disputes
- Files breach-of-contract and bad-faith lawsuits
- Handles depositions, discovery, trial
- Negotiates larger settlements under threat of litigation
- Handles post-SB 2A presuit notice requirements
Cost comparison
- PA fees: contingency, capped by Fla. Stat. 626.854
- Attorney fees: contingency, typically 25-40%, or hourly
PAs are substantially less expensive. Attorneys are more expensive but bring the threat of litigation: sometimes the only thing that moves a carrier.
When you need both
Many Florida claims benefit from both. Ocean Point routinely coordinates with policyholder counsel:
- PA handles documentation, scope, and negotiation
- Attorney files suit when carrier refuses to pay fairly
- Settlement or trial resolves the matter
When you need only a PA
- Most property damage claims where the dispute is about amount of loss, not coverage
- Denied claims where documentation and re-estimation can reverse the denial
- Underpaid claims where a full re-estimate closes the gap
- Delayed claims where statutory deadlines support CRN or DFS complaint
When you need an attorney first
- Coverage disputes (is the loss covered at all?)
- Existing bad-faith exposure
- Policy-rescission attempts by the carrier
- Complex commercial litigation