Dallas Public Adjuster FAQs

A public adjuster is licensed to represent the policyholder, not the insurance company, on a property insurance claim. That usually means inspecting the damage, reviewing the policy, preparing a detailed estimate and supporting documentation, presenting the claim to the insurer, and negotiating on your behalf. In Texas, public adjusters are licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance under Insurance Code Chapter 4102. Read more in what is a public claims adjuster?

Not always. Small, simple claims are often resolved fairly without outside help. A Dallas public adjuster tends to be most useful when the loss is large or complex, the claim was denied or underpaid, the insurer's estimate leaves out parts of the damage, or the process is eating up more time than you have. See knowing when to call a public adjuster.

Fees are disclosed in a written contract before any work begins; Texas law caps public adjuster compensation at 10% of the insurance settlement. If the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay policy limits within 72 hours after the loss is reported, a percentage fee is not allowed. Our Free Claim Review costs nothing and carries no obligation.

Yes. Texas public adjuster contracts must use terms approved by the Texas Department of Insurance and must let you rescind within 72 hours of signing. The contract must also state "We represent the insured only."

No. Public adjusters handle the insurance claim. We do not give legal advice or file lawsuits; for questions about suits, bad faith, or deadlines to sue, consult a Texas attorney. Texas law also bars a public adjuster from taking part in the repair or reconstruction of a property on a claim they adjust, so you pick your own contractor.

Use the license lookup on the Texas Department of Insurance website before you sign anything. Dallas Public Adjuster is a public adjusting service of Rise Public Adjusting LLC, TDI license #3356839.

Dallas County hail runs mainly from March through June and peaks in April and May, with a smaller secondary bump in October. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 841 hail reports in the county, 250 of them golf ball size (1.75 inches) or larger, including 4.25-inch hail in Irving on May 24, 2011. Our storm history page and storm lookup tool show recorded events. For the full picture, read Dallas hail season by the numbers.

No. Dallas County is not in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association's designated coastal area, so Dallas properties typically get wind and hail coverage from their regular property insurer, or from the Texas FAIR Plan where applicable. Many Texas policies carry a separate wind/hail deductible, often a percentage of the dwelling limit, so check your declarations page.

Once it is safe, photograph and video the damage from several angles: roof, gutters, siding, windows, fences, HVAC units, and any interior leaks. Write down the date, keep receipts for emergency repairs such as tarping, and save every insurer letter. Our hail documentation guide and documentation checklist go into detail, and tornado damage claims covers larger losses.

Standard homeowners and commercial property policies generally exclude flood. Flood coverage usually comes from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood policy, and NFIP policies typically have a 30-day waiting period. Dallas flash floods can be severe; in August 2022, parts of the city received upwards of 15 inches of rain. Learn more at FloodSmart.gov or on our flood damage claims page.

Sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe is often covered under a homeowners policy, subject to its terms, exclusions, and conditions. Some policies limit coverage if the home was vacant or not reasonably heated. Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 brought single-digit lows to Dallas, and ice storms followed in 2023, 2025, and 2026. See freeze damage claims.

Usually not when it comes from ordinary settling or the shrink-and-swell of Dallas's expansive clay soils; most policies exclude that. Coverage may apply when a covered peril, such as a sudden plumbing leak, causes the damage, depending on your policy. Check your policy, and see water damage claims.

Get the denial or estimate in writing and compare it with your policy and the actual damage. Many denials and underpayments come down to missed damage, incomplete scopes, or a disputed cause of loss. A public adjuster can review the file and, where appropriate, submit more documentation or a supplement. See denied insurance claims and underpaid insurance claims.

Under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims statute (Insurance Code Chapter 542), an insurer generally has 15 days after notice of a claim to acknowledge it, begin its investigation, and request information. It then generally has 15 business days after receiving everything it asked for to accept or reject the claim, with up to 45 more days if it tells you it needs more time, and must pay within 5 business days after notifying you it accepts. These deadlines can be extended by 15 days after a declared weather catastrophe. See delayed insurance claims.

Often, yes. Depending on the policy and the timing, a claim may be supplemented or reopened when more damage appears, repairs uncover hidden damage, or the original estimate missed items. Policy deadlines apply, and questions about the deadline to file suit should go to a Texas attorney. See insurance claim supplements.

Many property policies let either side demand appraisal when you and the insurer disagree on the amount of the loss (not whether it is covered). Each side selects an appraiser, the appraisers select an umpire, and an award agreed to by any two is generally binding on the amount, as the policy provides. See insurance appraisal.

Actual cash value (ACV) is replacement cost minus depreciation. Under a replacement-cost policy, the insurer typically pays ACV first and releases recoverable depreciation after repairs are completed, often within a deadline in the policy. Some Texas roof coverage is ACV-only or uses a roof payment schedule, so check your policy. Read replacement cost vs. actual cash value in Texas.

Not automatically. Repairs in Dallas generally must meet the city's adopted International Residential Code and International Building Code, and re-roofing and most structural repairs usually need a permit from the City of Dallas Planning & Development Department. Suburban cities have their own permit offices. Whether the insurer pays for code-required upgrades depends on your ordinance or law coverage, which is often separate and limited. See Dallas building codes and insurance repairs.

We serve Dallas, Dallas County, and surrounding North Texas communities, including Highland Park, University Park, Richardson, Garland, Irving, Mesquite, Carrollton, Grand Prairie, Plano, and Rowlett. We do not have a public office and typically meet clients at the damaged property. See our service areas.