Public Adjuster Statistics
The numbers behind public adjusting, with the source attached to every figure — statutory fee caps, the OPPAGA Citizens study, documented DCS case outcomes, and Texas disaster claim volumes.
By Dependable Claims Specialists Public Adjusters · TDI Firm License #3134924 · FL DFS Firm #W820363
Last updated: July 13, 2026
What Do the Data Say About Public Adjusters?
Quick Answer
Public adjuster fees are capped by statute — 10% in Texas (Ins. Code Ch. 4102) and 20% in Florida, or 10% in a declared-emergency year (§626.854). The most rigorous public study, OPPAGA Report No. 10-06 (January 2010), found Citizens Property Insurance policyholders with public adjusters typically received 574% more on non-catastrophe claims and 747% more on 2005-hurricane claims — while noting represented claims took longer to settle.
Public Adjuster Fee Caps by State
Texas and Florida both cap public adjuster compensation by statute. The caps apply to the fee percentage, and each state adds consumer protections around the contract itself.
| State | Fee Cap | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 10% of the insurance settlement | All claims. Contract must be on a TDI-approved form; three-business-day right to cancel; no percentage commission if the insurer pays policy limits within 72 hours of the loss report. | Tex. Ins. Code §4102.104 |
| Florida — standard claims | 20% of the claim payment | Non-emergency claims. The fee cannot be based on the deductible or on payments the insurer already made for the same loss. | Fla. Stat. §626.854(11)(b)(2) |
| Florida — declared emergency | 10% of the claim payment | Claims based on a declared state of emergency, made within one year of the declaration. | Fla. Stat. §626.854(11)(b)(1) |
Model the capped fee on your own claim with the public adjuster fee calculator. Appraiser and umpire engagements are compensated differently: hourly or flat-rate, with the umpire’s fee typically split 50/50 under the standard appraisal clause.
The OPPAGA Study: Public Adjusters and Citizens Claims
In January 2010, the Florida Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability published Report No. 10-06, “Public Adjuster Representation in Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Claims Extends the Time to Reach a Settlement and Also Increases Payments to Citizens’ Policyholders.” It remains the most-cited public dataset on public adjuster impact.
Source: OPPAGA Report No. 10-06 (January 2010), oppaga.fl.gov. Figures verified against the report, July 2026.
| Finding | Figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Non-catastrophe claims — typical payment with a public adjuster | $9,379 vs. $1,391 without — a difference of 574% | Citizens Property Insurance Corporation claims filed 2008–2009 |
| 2005 hurricane claims — payment difference with a public adjuster | 747% higher ($17,187 vs. $2,029 median) | Claims filed in 2008–2009 relating to the 2005 hurricanes |
| 2004 hurricane claims — typical payment | $22,266 with a public adjuster vs. $18,659 without | Claims filed in 2008–2009 relating to the 2004 hurricanes |
| How often policyholders used public adjusters | 26% of non-catastrophe claims; 39% of catastrophe claims | Citizens claims filed 2008–2009 |
| Public adjuster presence in dispute processes | 61% of mediations; 89% of appraisal requests | As reported by Citizens officials for 2008 |
| Study population | 76,321 Citizens claims (March 2008 – June 2009); 21,545 with public adjuster representation | OPPAGA methodology appendix |
Read the study with its own caveats. The figures are medians from a single insurer (Citizens) for claims filed March 2008 – June 2009. OPPAGA also found that represented claims typically took 132 to 296 days longer to reach settlement, and noted that policyholders’ net recovery is lower than the gross figures because the public adjuster’s fee is a percentage of the settlement. Florida insurance law has changed substantially since 2010 — including the 2022 reforms — so this is historical evidence of the documentation effect, not a prediction for any current claim.
Documented DCS Case Outcomes
These are verified DCS public adjusting results — real claims with documented carrier initial offers and final settlements. They are individual case results, not averages, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Full write-ups are on the case studies page.
| Claim | Year | Carrier Initial Offer | Final Settlement | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TWIA windstorm — Galveston, TX (Hurricane Beryl) | 2024 | $26,000 | $118,000 | ≈4.5× |
| Tornado — Spring, TX | 2024 | $21,682.74 | $122,602.83 | 5.65× |
| Hail & roof leak — Fulshear, TX | 2024 | $17,248.00 | $111,525.05 | ≈6.5× |
| Concealed water / HVAC — Friendswood, TX | 2024 | $10,000 | $250,000+ | ≈25× |
| Hurricane Beryl (partial denial reversed) — Alvin, TX | 2024 | $78,035 | $157,879 | ≈2× |
| Hurricane Beryl — Texas Fair Plan, Houston, TX | 2024 | $18,450.48 | $99,461.41 | ≈5.4× |
| Hurricane Ian — Sanibel Island, FL | 2022 | $88,884.45 | $270,074.73 | ≈3× |
Source: DCS verified case files (see the case studies page for carrier, client, and claim detail). Outcomes reflect public adjusting engagements under a contingency contract. Every claim turns on its own policy language, facts, and documentation; these results describe what happened on these specific claims and nothing more. Separately, when DCS served as the policyholder’s party-appointed appraiser on a Hurricane Ian loss the carrier had valued below the deductible, the appraisal panel issued a binding award of $1,427,372.70 (Sanibel Island, FL, 2023) — an appraisal-role outcome, distinct from public adjusting.
Texas Disaster Claim Volumes
Claim volume shapes claim handling: after major events, carriers process enormous surges, which historically stretches inspection and processing timelines. Key figures from our Houston claim-statistics analysis.
| Event | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Beryl (July 8, 2024) | More than 250,000 property insurance claims across Texas | NOAA/NCEI and TDI post-event reporting |
| Winter Storm Uri (February 13–17, 2021) | Over $10 billion in insured losses and well over a million property claims statewide — the costliest natural disaster in Texas insurance history | TDI post-event statistics / industry estimates |
| Tax Day Flood (April 17–18, 2016) | Over 10,000 flooded homes in the Houston area; more than $2.7 billion in total estimated economic losses | NOAA NCEI historical data |
| Memorial Day Flood (May 25–26, 2015) | Approximately 4,000 properties flooded in Houston | City of Houston post-event reporting |
Claim counts and insured-loss totals are point-in-time estimates from post-event reporting and are frequently revised in later analyses; statewide totals are not Harris-County-only figures.
Related Resources
Public Adjuster vs. Insurance Adjuster
Who each adjuster works for, who pays them, and when to use each.
What Is a Public Insurance Adjuster?
The license, what a PA does during a claim, fee caps, and when to hire one.
DCS Case Studies
The full documented outcomes behind the table above — carrier, client, and claim detail.
Public Adjuster Fee Calculator
Estimate the statute-capped fee on a Texas or Florida claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a public adjuster legally charge?
Do public adjusters actually increase claim payments?
Are the DCS settlement multiples typical results?
Is a study from 2010 still relevant?
Where can I verify these statistics?
Educational Information - Not Legal Advice
The information on this page is for general educational purposes only. Dependable Claims Specialists is a licensed public adjusting firm - not a law firm. Public adjusters help policyholders inspect, document, evaluate, and negotiate property insurance claims, which includes reading and applying your policy in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). We do not practice law and we do not provide legal advice. For legal opinions, demand letters, Chapter 542A pre-suit notices, statutory remedies under the Insurance Code, or litigation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Texas public adjusters operate under TX Ins. Code Chapter 4102; Florida public adjusters operate under FL Statute §626.854.
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