Orlando Property Damage Insurance Claims

Orlando property damage insurance claims often seem simple at first: something breaks, water or wind gets in, and you expect the policy you paid for to cover the loss. The hard part usually starts when the insurance company questions the cause, scope, price, or timing, leaving you stuck between a damaged home and a slow-moving claim.

Florida law gives you rights in the claims process, but it also sets strict deadlines and rules that can decide whether money is paid at all. When the stakes are high, a property damage lawyer with Kuhn Raslavich Attorneys at Law will focus on the policy language, the proof supporting your loss, and the legal steps that push the claim toward a fair result.

Insurance Claims and Florida’s Deadlines

Florida has a firm notice deadline for property insurance claims. A new claim (or a reopened claim) can be barred unless notice is given to the insurer within one year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim can be barred unless notice is given within 18 months after the date the loss occurred. 

The “date of loss” can matter, especially after major weather events. For hurricanes and certain weather-related events, the date of loss ties to landfall or verification by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Losses That Often Fall Under Property Coverage

Most Florida property policies separate coverage into buckets, and the bucket you are in can shape the payment you receive. Dwelling coverage is often the main part of the claim, but many Orlando claims also involve other structures, personal property, and loss of use when the home is not livable.

Loss assessment coverage can also come up for condo owners when an association passes costs down to unit owners after a covered event. Florida law establishes a specific notice timeline for loss assessment claims tied to covered losses, which may differ from the standard one-year notice rule. 

Deductibles add another layer. Hurricane deductibles and wind-related provisions can affect what you pay out of pocket before insurance dollars apply, and the policy wording often controls how those numbers are calculated. Clear, early claim framing helps because the same physical damage can be treated very differently depending on how the insurer classifies the cause of loss.

How Florida’s Claims Handling Rules Shape the Process

Florida’s Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights summarizes key timelines and process rights in simple terms. For example, it states that you have the right to receive acknowledgment of a reported claim within seven days, and you can request coverage confirmation (or notice that the claim is under investigation) within 30 days after submitting a complete proof-of-loss statement. 

Florida law also requires insurers to pay property claims (or a portion of the claim) or deny them within 60 days after receiving notice of an initial, reopened, or supplemental claim, unless factors the insurer cannot control prevent payment or denial. When payment is late, interest may accrue under the statute. Your attorney can explain when that interest begins accruing from the date the insurer receives notice of the claim. 

Even when the insurer follows the calendar, disputes still happen because “pay or deny” does not mean “pay enough.” In many Orlando cases, the fight is over scope, pricing, depreciation, and whether the insurer’s estimate matches the cost of actual repairs. A claims-focused lawyer will treat those issues as proof problems that can be solved.

Building a Strong Claim Without Drowning in Paperwork

Insurance companies often say they want “documentation,” but the real goal is simpler: prove what happened, prove what it damaged, and prove what it will take to repair or replace. The cleaner the proof, the harder it is for the insurer to treat the claim like guesswork.

Policies also contain duties after loss, and insurers can lean on those duties when they want to delay or reduce payment. Proof-of-loss requests, recorded statements, and inspection scheduling can all become pressure points, especially when the carrier argues it cannot evaluate the claim without more information.

Here are examples of items that often move a claim forward when they are organized and consistent:

• Photos or video showing the damage close up and at room or roof scale, taken over time if conditions change.

• Professional repair estimates that clearly describe scope (what gets removed, replaced, dried, sealed, rebuilt, or matched).

• Receipts and invoices tied to covered damage, including materials and labor.

• A personal property list that connects each item to a location and a replacement price.

• A simple timeline of communications, including dates you reported the loss and the dates the insurer responded.

Support like this helps an attorney press the insurer on the real issue: whether the coverage decision and the dollar amount match the policy and the facts.

Common Disputes That Can Delay Orlando Property Damage Insurance Claims 

Orlando claims often involve weather, water intrusion, aging roofs, plumbing failures, and moisture-related damage, and those facts invite certain insurer arguments. One common dispute is “wear and tear” versus sudden covered damage. The insurer may try to reframe a covered event as the result of long-term deterioration that the policy excludes.

Scope disputes also arise when the insurer provides a low ball estimate that excludes hidden damage, code-driven work, or matching materials. Florida policies can treat actual cash value and replacement cost differently, and the timing and proof required to recover withheld depreciation can become a fight of its own.

Another pressure point is supplemental claims. After repairs begin, extra damage is sometimes discovered, pricing changes, or additional work becomes necessary. Florida law allows supplemental claims, but the 18-month notice window matters. Late notice can bar the additional amount even when the original claim was timely. An experienced lawyer will separate legitimate coverage issues from delay tactics.

Mediation, Appraisal, and Other Structured Ways to Resolve a Dispute

Florida has a residential property insurance mediation program, as mandated by statute. The law directs the Department of Financial Services to run a mediation program. This program explains key features like confidentiality, good-faith negotiation, and the ability to rescind a settlement within three business days in certain situations. 

Mediation can help when the insurer and the policyholder disagree on the scope or value of the damage, because it forces real-time discussion with an impartial mediator in the room. The statute also places the bulk of the cost responsibility on the insurer, which can make the process more accessible. 

An appraisal can be useful when the dispute centers on the amount of loss. On the other hand, mediation can be useful when communication has broken down or when broader settlement terms are at issue. An attorney will keep the focus on the best tool for the specific dispute, rather than letting the insurer choose a path that favors delay.

How Kuhn Raslavich Can Help You Push a Stalled Claim Forward

Insurance disputes are rarely solved by sending the same documents twice. A stronger approach usually involves reorganizing the proof, aligning it with the policy, and forcing the insurer to address the parts of the claim it would rather ignore. When Kuhn Raslavich gets involved, a property damage attorney from our firm will immediately get to work. We will review the claim history, identify the coverage issues in plain terms, and build an effective plan.

Communication strategy matters just as much as documentation. Kuhn Raslavich will handle insurer communications to create a clean record, address stated reasons for underpayment or denial, and demand policy-based explanations when the carrier’s position does not match the facts.

Disputes that do not resolve informally often require structured escalation. Kuhn Raslavich will prepare for mediation or appraisal when those tools are appropriate, and pause litigation when the insurer refuses to pay what the policy requires. Results depend on the facts and policy language, but a steady, deadline-driven approach gives Orlando policyholders a better chance to recover the full value of the covered loss.

Our Attorneys are Standing By to Tell You More

Orlando property damage insurance claims can turn into a long fight when the insurer undervalues repairs, delays decisions, or leans on technical defenses. However, the law still provides tools to press for a fair outcome. Please contact us online or call 407-501-4833 for a free consultation with Kuhn Raslavich. We will discuss your claim, all relevant deadlines, and the next steps we will take to pursue the benefits your policy promises.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to report a property insurance claim in Florida?

Florida law can bar a claim unless notice is given within one year of the date of loss, and it can bar a supplemental claim unless notice is given within 18 months after the date of loss. Policy language can add “prompt notice” duties, so timing still matters even inside the statutory window.

How long does the insurance company have to pay or deny the claim?

Florida law requires payment or denial (or a portion of the claim) within 60 days after the insurer receives notice, unless factors beyond the insurer’s control prevent it. Written explanations are also required for denials or partial denials. 

Do I have to send a pre-suit notice before suing the insurance company?

Many property insurance lawsuits require a notice of intent to initiate litigation at least 10 business days before filing suit. The notice must contain specific information, and the insurer must respond within the timeline set by the statute.