
Dependable Claims Specialists (DCS PIA) is a Texas-licensed public adjusting firm (TX Firm License #3134924) headquartered in Webster, TX. We represent policyholders, not insurance carriers, on hurricane, hail, fire, water, and denied property insurance claims across Greater Houston and eight Gulf Coast counties. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 caps our contingency fee at 10%. No recovery, no fee. Call 833-4UR-LOSS.
Based in Webster, TX - Harris County, near the Galveston County border in the NASA / Clear Lake area. We serve homeowners and businesses throughout the Texas Gulf Coast and beyond.
Texas is one of the most disaster-prone states in the country. Every year, millions of Texans deal with property damage from hurricanes, tropical storms, hailstorms, tornadoes, flash flooding, and freeze events. The Texas Gulf Coast, stretching from Galveston Island through Harris County and into Chambers and Brazoria counties, sits directly in the path of Atlantic hurricanes and tropical weather systems. Inland communities in Montgomery, Fort Bend, Waller, Liberty, and Polk counties face tornadoes, large hail, straight-line winds, and severe flash flooding that can devastate homes and businesses in minutes.
Hurricane Harvey in 2017 dumped over 60 inches of rain on parts of Southeast Texas and 30 to 50 inches across the Houston metro, causing an estimated $125 billion in damage and flooding more than 200,000 homes, per NOAA National Hurricane Center reporting on the storm. The Winter Storm Uri freeze event in February 2021 generated roughly half a million Texas insurance claims according to the Insurance Council of Texas, a large share of them burst-pipe losses, and many policyholders found their claims underpaid or denied. Hail season from March through June regularly produces golf-ball-sized hailstones across the Greater Houston area, damaging roofs, siding, gutters, HVAC systems, fences, and vehicles by the tens of thousands.
When you file a property damage claim in Texas, the insurance company assigns their own adjuster to inspect and value the damage. That adjuster is employed or retained by the insurance company and works under its claim-handling guidelines, not for you. A public adjuster is a licensed insurance professional who works exclusively for the policyholder. We inspect your property, document every item of damage, review your insurance policy line by line, prepare a detailed estimate using Xactimate (the same software the insurance companies use), and negotiate directly with your carrier to pursue the settlement your policy provides.
Florida’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability studied this question in 2010 (OPPAGA Report 10-06) and found that Citizens Property Insurance claims handled with a public adjuster settled for more on average than claims handled without one. That study covered one Florida insurer rather than the Texas market, so read it as context and not as a prediction about any individual claim. The underlying reason is straightforward: insurance policies are complex contracts, and most homeowners do not know what their policy covers or how to document damage completely. Carriers work with that knowledge gap every day. A public adjuster closes it.
Texas weather is relentless and unpredictable. The state spans multiple climate zones, and the Gulf Coast region where DCS is headquartered experiences the full spectrum of severe weather events throughout the year.
Hurricane Season (June 1 to November 30): The Texas Gulf Coast is a primary target for Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms. Galveston, Chambers, and Brazoria counties face direct landfall risk, while Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties are hammered by catastrophic rainfall and wind even from storms that make landfall hundreds of miles away. Hurricane-force winds strip roofs, topple trees, shatter windows, and drive rain into structures. Storm surge along the coast can destroy everything in its path. Even tropical storms that never reach hurricane strength routinely dump 10 to 20 inches of rain on the region, flooding thousands of homes.
Hail Season (March to June): Severe thunderstorms roll through the Greater Houston area regularly during spring, producing damaging hail that ranges from marble to softball size. A single hailstorm can damage tens of thousands of roofs in a matter of minutes. Insurance carriers receive such a high volume of hail claims in Texas that they often rush adjustments, undervalue damage, or use preferred vendors whose estimates fall short of the documented scope. Homeowners who accept the first offer frequently leave thousands of dollars on the table. Recent example: the March 2026 Leakey supercell dropped 4-inch hail across the Texas Hill Country - full claim guidance and all current events are indexed at our Storm Events hub.
Tornadoes and Straight-Line Winds: The Houston metro is not in Tornado Alley, but it is no stranger to tornadoes. EF-0 through EF-2 tornadoes strike Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, and Waller counties multiple times per year, often embedded in larger supercell thunderstorms. Straight-line winds from derechos and severe thunderstorms can exceed 80 mph, causing widespread roof damage, fence destruction, and tree falls that damage structures.
Freeze Events: Winter Storm Uri in 2021 proved that even Texas is not immune to catastrophic freeze damage. Burst pipes, cracked foundations, damaged HVAC systems, and collapsed ceilings from water damage affected homes in every county we serve. The resulting insurance claims were among the most contentious in Texas history, with carriers denying claims for “wear and tear,” insufficient “maintenance,” or alleging pre-existing conditions.
Flash Flooding: Harris County is often called the flash-flood capital of the United States. The region’s flat topography, clay soils, and extensive impervious surfaces mean that heavy rain has nowhere to go. Flash flooding damages homes that are nowhere near a floodplain and catches homeowners off guard who may not carry flood insurance. Even for those who do, NFIP flood claims require careful documentation to receive fair settlements.
Hurricane & Tropical Storm
Jun to Nov
Hail & Severe Thunderstorm
Mar to Jun
Tornado & Straight-Line Wind
Mar to Jun
Flash Flooding
Year-round
Freeze & Pipe Burst
Dec to Feb
Fire & Lightning
Year-round
9 counties served across the Texas Gulf Coast
Understanding Texas insurance regulations helps you protect your claim. Here is what every Texas policyholder should know.
Texas law limits public adjuster fees to 10% of the insurance settlement. This protects homeowners and ensures the vast majority of your claim payout goes directly to repairing your property.
Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 licenses public adjusters to represent policyholders in insurance claims. Hiring one is optional and entirely your choice - the licensed representation exists so you do not have to face the carrier’s adjuster alone.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) licenses and regulates all public adjusters in the state. Dependable Claims Specialists - Public Insurance Adjusters holds an active Texas public adjuster license and operates in full compliance with TDI requirements.
Your policy sets deadlines for notice, proof of loss, and other duties after a loss, and most Texas property forms also contain a contractual limitation period for bringing suit, commonly two years from the date of loss. We calendar every policy deadline on the claims we handle; how any limitation period applies to a specific claim is a question for a licensed attorney.
Texas law sets deadlines for insurers to acknowledge, investigate, and pay claims. We document every date, communication, and carrier response on the claims we handle so the written record is complete; whether a carrier has met a legal deadline is a question for a licensed attorney.
Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 governs public adjusters, including the 10% fee cap, written contract requirement, and TDI licensing standards. DCS operates in full compliance.
Appraisal clause disputes are common in Texas. When you and the carrier disagree on the amount of loss, either party can invoke the appraisal process outlined in the policy. We help policyholders invoke appraisal and engage a qualified, disinterested appraiser.
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) provides wind and hail coverage for 14 coastal counties and parts of Harris County where private carriers do not write wind coverage.
Cosmetic hail damage exclusions are written into many Texas policies. Many homeowners do not realize their policy contains this exclusion until they file a claim. We review policies before filing whenever possible.
Questions about the legal application of any Texas statute to your specific claim should be discussed with a licensed Texas attorney. Public adjusters do not practice law.
Our public adjusting services cover the entire Greater Houston metro and surrounding counties. Click any county to see the communities we serve.
Houston metro
Gulf Coast
The Woodlands / Conroe
Pearland / Lake Jackson
Sugar Land / Missouri City
Anahuac / Mont Belvieu
Liberty / Dayton
Hempstead / Prairie View
Livingston
From Houston to Galveston, The Woodlands to Sugar Land, we represent policyholders in 103 Texas communities and counting.
Houston
Harris County
Pasadena
Harris County
Cypress
Harris County
Baytown
Harris County
Kingwood
Harris County
Atascocita
Harris County
Spring
Harris County
Friendswood
Harris County
Katy
Harris County
Humble
Harris County
Tomball
Harris County
Bellaire
Harris County
South Houston
Harris County
Galena Park
Harris County
Jacinto City
Harris County
Channelview
Harris County
Crosby
Harris County
Highlands
Harris County
Jersey Village
Harris County
Stafford
Harris County
Mission Bend
Harris County
Sheldon
Harris County
Huffman
Harris County
Southside Place
Harris County
The Woodlands
Montgomery County
Conroe
Montgomery County
Willis
Montgomery County
Magnolia
Montgomery County
Montgomery
Montgomery County
Splendora
Montgomery County
Shenandoah
Montgomery County
Oak Ridge North
Montgomery County
Pearland
Brazoria County
Alvin
Brazoria County
Lake Jackson
Brazoria County
Angleton
Brazoria County
Freeport
Brazoria County
Clute
Brazoria County
Manvel
Brazoria County
West Columbia
Brazoria County
Sweeny
Brazoria County
Brazoria
Brazoria County
Richwood
Brazoria County
Clear Lake
Harris County
La Porte
Harris County
Deer Park
Harris County
Seabrook
Harris County
Webster
Harris County
League City
Galveston County
Galveston
Galveston County
Texas City
Galveston County
Dickinson
Galveston County
Santa Fe
Galveston County
Kemah
Galveston County
La Marque
Galveston County
Hitchcock
Galveston County
Clear Lake Shores
Galveston County
Bayou Vista
Galveston County
Bolivar Peninsula
Galveston County
Sugar Land
Fort Bend County
Missouri City
Fort Bend County
Richmond
Fort Bend County
Shadow Creek Ranch
Fort Bend County
Mont Belvieu
Chambers County
Anahuac
Chambers County
Beach City
Chambers County
Liberty
Liberty County
Dayton
Liberty County
Hempstead
Waller County
Livingston
Polk County
Dallas
Dallas County
Garland
Dallas County
Irving
Dallas County
Grand Prairie
Dallas County
Mesquite
Dallas County
DeSoto
Dallas County
Cedar Hill
Dallas County
Lancaster
Dallas County
Carrollton
Dallas County
Coppell
Dallas County
Fort Worth
Tarrant County
Arlington
Tarrant County
Mansfield
Tarrant County
Burleson
Tarrant County
Keller
Tarrant County
Southlake
Tarrant County
Roanoke
Tarrant County
Trophy Club
Tarrant County
Plano
Collin County
McKinney
Collin County
Frisco
Collin County
Allen
Collin County
Richardson
Collin County
Denton
Denton County
Lewisville
Denton County
Flower Mound
Denton County
Cleburne
Johnson County
Austin
Travis County
Round Rock
Williamson County
Cedar Park
Williamson County
San Antonio
Bexar County
New Braunfels
Comal County
Corpus Christi
Nueces County
We represent Texas policyholders for every type of residential and commercial property damage claim. Click a claim type to learn more.
Our process is built to document the full scope of the loss and keep you informed every step of the way. There is never an upfront cost.
We inspect your property, photograph and document all damage, and review your insurance policy to determine the full scope of coverage.
We prepare a detailed, line-item estimate using Xactimate, the same software your insurance company uses, so there is no dispute over methodology.
We file the claim (or supplement an existing one), meet with the carrier adjuster on-site, and negotiate aggressively on your behalf.
We pursue the full settlement your policy provides. If the carrier will not pay, we escalate through appraisal or refer to legal counsel.
Dependable Claims Specialists (DCS) is a licensed public adjusting firm headquartered in Webster, Texas, in the heart of the NASA / Clear Lake area of Harris County. Our office sits near the Galveston County border, giving us rapid access to the most hurricane-and-storm-vulnerable communities along the Texas Gulf Coast.
DCS was founded by a former insurance carrier field adjuster and team lead who spent seven years (2010 to 2017) on the carrier side before switching to represent policyholders. That experience gives DCS an insider understanding of how carriers evaluate claims, what documentation they need, how they calculate settlements, and where they look for reasons to underpay or deny. We apply that knowledge to document the full scope of loss and pursue every dollar your policy provides.
Since 2017, DCS has represented homeowners and business owners across the Greater Houston metro through some of the most destructive weather events in Texas history, including Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda, Winter Storm Uri, and countless hail and wind events. We handle claims of all sizes, from a single-room water leak to a total-loss commercial property. Our fee is contingency-based: if we do not recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
1,000+ claims handled since 2017
Licensed in Texas. TDI regulated.
No recovery, no fee. Ever.
Five steps, about fifteen minutes, and no upfront cost. Verify the license first - it is the one step most policyholders skip.
Search the Texas Department of Insurance agent and adjuster lookup for both the firm and the individual adjuster license. DCS PIA holds TX Firm License #3134924. Founder Joshua Osteen holds TX Adjuster License #2237777.
DCS PIA serves Harris, Galveston, Montgomery, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Chambers, Liberty, Waller, and Polk counties from the Webster, TX office at 326 Linda Lane, Webster, TX 77598.
Texas Insurance Code §4102.104 caps a public adjuster’s total commission at 10% of the insurance settlement on the claim. The contract must be in writing on a TDI-approved form and disclose the fee. There should be no upfront cost, hourly billing, or fee for the initial claim review.
Call 833-4UR-LOSS (833-487-5677) or schedule online. Have the policy declarations page and any prior carrier correspondence ready.
DCS PIA inspects the property, documents damage with photos and moisture mapping where applicable, builds a defensible Xactimate estimate, and negotiates the claim with your carrier through settlement.
Most policyholders never learn that there are six distinct roles in property insurance claim handling, and they do not all work for the same side. Knowing which is which is the foundation of understanding what your options are when a loss happens.
An employee of the insurance carrier. Salaried by the carrier. Investigates and values claims under the carrier internal guidelines. Cannot represent policyholders.
Works for: Insurance company
Fee: Salary (carrier employee)
A contractor hired by the insurance carrier, often during catastrophe deployments. Paid per file by the carrier. Works under the carrier guidelines. Cannot represent policyholders on the same loss.
Works for: Insurance company
Fee: Per-file (paid by carrier)
A state-licensed adjuster hired by the policyholder. Inspects damage, documents the loss, prepares the claim, and negotiates with the carrier on the policyholder behalf.
Works for: You (the policyholder)
Fee: Contingency, capped by statute (10% in TX under Ch. 4102; up to 20% in FL under §626.854, 10% during a declared emergency for the first year)
Advisory engagement. Provides policy review, coverage analysis, settlement-offer review, expert testimony, or attorney-litigation support without taking on the formal PA representation. Does not negotiate the claim with the carrier as agent of the policyholder.
Works for: You or your attorney
Fee: Flat fee or time-and-expense (not contingency)
Named under the appraisal clause by one party. Required to be "competent and disinterested" or "competent and impartial" under the policy. Inspects, scopes, prices, and reaches a defensible loss-amount opinion. Not an advocate. Does not address coverage.
Works for: Neutral fact-finder
Fee: Flat-minimum-plus-time-and-expense. Never contingency. PA fee caps do NOT apply.
Neutral tiebreaker selected jointly by the two party-appointed appraisers (or appointed by a court if they cannot agree). Reviews both estimates and the supporting record, may inspect, and issues a written award. Any 2 of 3 must agree for the award to bind.
Works for: Neutral third party
Fee: Flat-minimum-plus-time-and-expense, split 50/50 by the parties on standard policies. Never contingency.
Key distinctions that matter most
Public adjusters are licensed and regulated in both states we serve. These are the rules that govern how we may contract with you and what we may charge - the framework we are held to. We read and apply your policy in the ordinary course of adjusting; legal questions belong to a licensed attorney in your state.
DCS Firm License #3134924
DCS Firm License #W820363
Important. This is general educational information about how public adjusters are licensed and paid, not legal advice. Dependable Claims Specialists - Public Insurance Adjusters read and apply policy language in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). We do not provide legal advice, and we do not pursue legal remedies. For any legal question, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
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.
Contact Dependable Claims Specialists for a free property inspection and claim review. We work on contingency - no recovery, no fee. Serving all of Texas from our Webster office.