Public Adjusters in Texas

A Texas hail, wind, fire, or water claim can involve disagreements about several different things: what caused the damage, which repairs are necessary, what those repairs cost, and what the policy covers. Before hiring help, ask your insurer to identify its position in writing. Bring its estimate, your policy, photos, repair proposals, payment letters, and a dated record of conversations to any consultation.

A licensed public insurance adjuster can document and negotiate a property claim for the policyholder. Hiring one is optional. Texas Insurance Code § 4102.007 protects the right to hire a licensed public adjuster under the policies covered by that section; it does not require you to hire one. A public adjuster cannot provide legal advice. When the problem is an unresolved coverage question or a threatened lawsuit deadline, ask a qualified attorney which next step fits the dispute.

Texas Insurance Code § 4102.104 generally limits the total commission to 10% of the insurance settlement. Hourly, flat-rate, and percentage arrangements are contemplated by the statute. The Texas Department of Insurance warns that a contract may charge against the total settlement, not only the amount added after the adjuster is hired. Ask for a written calculation if the insurer increases its offer and another if it does not. A higher settlement is not automatically more money left after fees.

The special rule in § 4102.104(b) applies when the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay policy limits in accordance with § 862.053 within 72 hours after the loss is reported. It prohibits a percentage commission and permits reasonable compensation for time and expenses incurred before that payment or commitment. Keep the actual letter and reporting date if this may affect your contract. Do not confuse this reporting-based clock with the separate 72-hour cancellation period after signing.

Compare estimates item by item. Identify the location, the insurer's quantity or repair approach, the correction you request, and the evidence supporting it. Separate an omitted damaged item from a pricing disagreement or a coverage exclusion. Ask whether the insurer is withholding recoverable depreciation and what documentation your policy requires to release it. TDI's Home insurance guide explains why an initial replacement-cost payment may differ from the ultimate covered payment.

For a small or straightforward disagreement, sending a complete contractor estimate and asking for reconsideration may be a useful first step. For a larger documentation dispute, ask prospective adjusters exactly who will inspect, prepare the estimate, and communicate with the insurer. Ask what other expenses could arise. Compare the services and fee calculations, not unsupported promises of a particular settlement increase.

Your deadline to report a loss comes from your policy and applicable law. Report promptly and ask for any required proof-of-loss or repair deadlines in writing. TDI describes a one-year reporting deadline for Texas Windstorm Insurance Association claims; ordinary homeowners policies and TWIA claims should not be treated as the same process. A deadline for filing suit is also separate from reporting or negotiating a claim.

For claims subject to Chapter 542, the ordinary sequence is acknowledgment, investigation, and a request for needed information within 15 days of notice, then acceptance or rejection within 15 business days after receiving all required items, and payment within five business days after notification of acceptance. Sections 542.055-.059 contain exceptions, including certain surplus-lines timing, conditional payments, a notified extension for deciding a claim, and catastrophe extensions. These are insurer handling rules, not a guaranteed total settlement timeline.

Do not assume every delay generates 18% interest. Section 542.060(c) provides a different interest formula for actions subject to Chapter 542A. Whether an insurer violated a deadline and what remedies apply requires the policy, communications, relevant dates, and applicable law. Preserve those records and obtain legal advice when needed.

TDI's consumer help line is 800-252-3439. Its homeowners complaint process can review conduct and policy compliance, but TDI cannot resolve every factual dispute, such as whether storm damage or normal wear caused a problem. Its official complaint guide explains the process and limits. Keep copies of the materials you submit and continue meeting policy obligations while a complaint is considered.

Official Texas statutes and TDI guidance checked September 3, 2026. This is consumer information, not legal advice about a particular claim.