Public Adjusters in Boca Raton, FL — At a Glance
Dolphin Claims is a Florida-licensed public adjusting firm representing policyholders only — never insurance companies — on residential and commercial property damage claims throughout Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, FL.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| License | Florida DFS, License #W026874 (Joe L Ford, PCA) |
| Headquartered | 200 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Service area | All Boca Raton ZIPs: 33427, 33428, 33431, 33432, 33433, 33434, 33486, 33487, 33496, 33497, 33498 |
| Neighborhoods | East Boca, West Boca, Mizner Park, Royal Palm Yacht Club, Boca Pointe, Boca del Mar, Boca Square |
| Fee | Contingency 10–20%; 10% cap year one for declared-emergency claims (FL Statute 626.854) |
| Response | Free claim review within 24 hours; onsite inspection within 48–72 hours |
| Settled | $50M+ across 60+ Florida cities |
| Reviews | 5.0 / 5.0 on Google (34 reviews) |
Why Boca Raton property owners file public-adjuster claims
Boca Raton sits squarely in Florida's hurricane corridor. Since 2004, Palm Beach County has been hit by Hurricanes Frances (2004), Jeanne (2004), Wilma (2005), Matthew (2016), Irma (2017), Ian (2022), and Nicole (2022). The 2022 Florida insurance reform (SB 2A) shortened the new-claim deadline from 3 years to 1 year, with 18 months for supplemental claims (§ 627.70132) — making timely, professional representation more important than ever.
Common Boca Raton claim types we handle:
- Wind / hurricane roof damage (asphalt shingle and tile)
- Water intrusion from wind-driven rain
- Pool cage and screen-enclosure damage
- Stucco and exterior cladding damage
- Mold from delayed water remediation
- High-end interior and personal-property damage (East Boca / Royal Palm)
- Condo / HOA association claims (West Boca high-density complexes)
How a Boca Raton public adjuster increases settlements
Per the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability (OPPAGA Report 10-06), policyholders represented by public adjusters received settlements averaging 747% higher on residential claims and 574% higher on commercial claims than unrepresented claimants. The math: a properly scoped, fully documented, expertly negotiated claim is harder for the insurance company to underpay.
Boca Raton's Top-Rated Public Adjuster
Dolphin Claims represents Boca Raton homeowners and business owners on every type of property damage claim — hurricane, wind, water, fire, mold, theft, vandalism, and complex commercial losses. Our scope-first approach means we document everything, leverage industry-standard estimating tools, and negotiate from a position of evidence — not hope. Founder Joe L Ford (PCA, FL License #W026874) leads a team that has settled over $50 million for Florida policyholders since 2013.
Why You Need a Boca Raton Public Adjuster
Insurance company adjusters work for the insurance company. A public adjuster works for you — the policyholder. Florida Statute 626.854 governs this distinction explicitly. In Boca Raton, where high-value coastal properties, frequent hurricane exposure, and complex carrier mixes (Citizens, Universal, Tower Hill, Slide) are the norm, the gap between an insurer's first offer and the actual claim value can run from 5x to 10x. OPPAGA-published Florida data: residential claimants represented by public adjusters averaged settlements 747% higher than unrepresented peers.
How We Handle Boca Raton Property Damage Claims
Our process is built for Florida's claim environment and Boca Raton's property mix.
1. Free Claim Review (within 24 hours) Send us your policy + photos / description. We tell you honestly whether you have a claim worth pursuing — and what it's potentially worth.
2. Onsite Inspection (48–72 hours) A Florida-licensed public adjuster inspects every affected area. We use Xactimate / Symbility (the same software your insurer uses) plus Matterport scans where appropriate. Hidden damage is the rule, not the exception — we find it.
3. Notice of Loss + Scope of Damage We file the notice with your carrier, prepare a complete scope, and assemble the evidence package: photos, videos, mitigation invoices, contractor estimates, building-code research.
4. Negotiation We negotiate directly with the insurance company's adjuster. Our scope vs. theirs. We supplement, dispute, and (when needed) invoke appraisal under your policy's appraisal clause.
5. Settlement & Payment Once settled, payment goes to you (and your mortgagee, if applicable). Our fee is contingency-based — we get paid only when you do.
Boca Raton-Specific Claim Considerations
- Hurricane deductibles in Boca run 2%–5% of dwelling value — on a $1M East Boca home that's $20k–$50k out of pocket before coverage kicks in. A properly scoped claim makes that deductible worth crossing.
- Tile vs. asphalt roofing matters. Boca's tile roofs require specialty contractors; insurers often pay for asphalt-equivalent repair. We push for like-kind-and-quality replacement.
- Pool cages and screen enclosures are typically sub-limited — read your policy, then call us. We've recovered six-figure pool-cage claims on Mediterranean-style estate homes.
- Boca's HOA-heavy west-side condos trigger overlapping carrier responsibilities (master vs. unit-owner). We map coverage before you get caught between two adjusters denying each other's territory.
- Mold sub-limits apply if water remediation is delayed. File and mitigate early.
Frequently Asked Questions — Boca Raton
How much does a public adjuster cost in Boca Raton?▾
Florida public adjusters charge a contingency fee — typically 10–20% of the settlement. For declared-emergency claims (e.g., hurricanes), Florida Statute 626.854(11) caps the fee at 10% during year one after the loss and 20% thereafter. No upfront fees. No fee if there's no recovery.
How long do I have to file a hurricane claim in Boca Raton?▾
Under Florida Statute 627.70132 (post-SB 2A, effective Dec 16, 2022), policyholders have 1 year from the date of loss to file a new windstorm or hurricane claim, and 18 months for supplemental claims. This is shorter than the prior 3-year deadline. File early.
Which insurance carriers do you handle claims against in Boca Raton?▾
All Florida-admitted carriers, including Citizens Property Insurance, Universal Property & Casualty, Tower Hill, Heritage, American Integrity, Slide Insurance, People's Trust, Homeowners Choice, Florida Peninsula, FedNat, and Frontline. Also surplus-lines carriers and Citizens depopulation transitions.
Do you handle commercial claims for Boca Raton businesses?▾
Yes. We represent commercial property owners on Boca Raton commercial claims including retail (Mizner Park, Town Center Mall), office, hospitality, restaurants, and HOA / condominium-association claims. Business interruption, code-upgrade (Ordinance & Law) coverage, and complex commercial-package policies are common scope items.
What ZIP codes in Boca Raton do you serve?▾
All Boca Raton ZIPs: 33427, 33428, 33431, 33432, 33433, 33434, 33486, 33487, 33496, 33497, 33498 — including East Boca, West Boca, Boca del Mar, Royal Palm Polo, Boca Pointe, Boca Square, Boca Raton Resort area, and unincorporated Palm Beach County areas adjacent to Boca.
Can a public adjuster reopen my denied or underpaid Boca Raton claim?▾
Yes. Under Florida law, you can hire a public adjuster after the insurance company has issued a denial or low payment. We review the policy, scope the loss with our own estimating software (Xactimate / Symbility), and pursue supplemental, reopened, or appraisal-process resolution within Florida's 18-month supplemental-claim window.
How fast can you start work on my Boca Raton claim?▾
Free claim review within 24 hours. Onsite inspection scheduled within 48–72 hours of contract execution. Florida law requires a mandatory 3-business-day cancellation window (FL Statute 626.8796), after which we begin scoping, documentation, and notice-of-loss filing.
Is Dolphin Claims licensed in Florida?▾
Yes. Joe L Ford holds Florida Public Claims Adjuster License #W026874 issued by the Florida Department of Financial Services. Dolphin Claims is a member of FAPIA (Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters) and BBB-accredited. Verify any Florida adjuster license at myfloridacfo.com/division/agents.
Free Claim Review
No upfront fees. No recovery, no fee.
Public adjusting services in Boca Raton
The most common claim types we handle for residential and commercial property owners.
Carrier-specific claim help in Boca Raton
Each Florida carrier handles claims differently. Carrier-specific guides for the major insurers we represent policyholders against.