Fort Lauderdale Public Adjusters. Your Claim, Maximized.

Five Star Fort Lauderdale, LLC handles claims across the city from our office on W Oakland Park Blvd, about five miles north of downtown. Fort Lauderdale claims have their own character: a city laced with canals and close to sea level, a skyline of condominium towers, and a large base of commercial property. These are the issues that come up most.

April 2023 and the water backup question

On April 12, 2023, more than 25 inches of rain fell at Fort Lauderdale's airport in roughly a day, the most in the city's recorded history. Much of the damage came from water that rose from outside, which is flood, and from water that backed up through floor drains, toilets and sewer lines. A standard homeowners policy excludes both. Flood is covered only by a flood policy, and backup is covered only if you added a water backup endorsement, which usually carries its own limit. If you have either, the claim turns on proving which way the water came in.

Condos and high-rises

After the Surfside collapse, Florida law began requiring milestone structural inspections and reserve studies for condominium buildings three stories and taller, and many Fort Lauderdale associations are now funding repairs and raising assessments. When storm or water damage happens, the association's master policy and each owner's HO-6 policy cover different parts of the building, set by the declaration of condominium. Owners are also often surprised by how small the loss assessment coverage on their HO-6 is when the association passes a deductible or uninsured loss on to them. We read the master policy, the unit policy and the declaration together.

Commercial property

Offices, retail, restaurants, marinas and multifamily buildings bring commercial policies with business income coverage, coinsurance clauses and percentage deductibles. A claim that reaches business income or an interrupted operation needs the loss documented from the first day. See our commercial claims page for how we handle them.

Wind along the coast

Hurricane wind damage to windows, roofs and building envelopes on the barrier island and the waterfront often lets rain in behind it. Under the standard opening rule, rain damage is covered when the wind first created the opening, so documenting the opening is what gets the interior damage paid.