Great Lakes Insurance Claims in Orlando, FL

Great Lakes Insurance Claims in Orlando, FL

Florida property owners dealing with Great Lakes Insurance SE face a claims process that can quickly become adversarial. Whether your Orlando home sustained hurricane damage, water intrusion, or fire loss, understanding how to navigate Great Lakes' claims procedures — and your rights under Florida law — is essential to recovering what you're owed.

Great Lakes Insurance SE is a surplus lines insurer operating in Florida, meaning it operates outside the standard admitted market. This distinction matters significantly for policyholders: surplus lines carriers are not subject to the same rate and form regulations as admitted insurers, and disputes are handled differently under Florida's insurance statutes.

How to Contact Great Lakes Insurance for Claims in Orlando

For policyholders in the Orlando area, claims with Great Lakes Insurance SE are typically reported through your managing general agent (MGA) or through the broker who placed your policy — not directly through a single claims phone number. Because Great Lakes operates as a surplus lines carrier, your policy documents will specify the claims reporting contact, which is often a third-party claims administrator.

Common steps to initiate a Great Lakes claim in Orlando include:

• Review your policy declarations page for the claims reporting phone number or email address
• Contact your insurance broker or MGA — they are the primary intermediary for surplus lines policies
• Document your loss immediately with photographs, videos, and a written inventory of damaged property
• Submit written notice of the claim as soon as practicable — Florida law requires prompt reporting
• Request written confirmation of your claim number and assigned adjuster

If you cannot locate a claims contact in your policy documents, the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) maintains a surplus lines database where you can look up your insurer and its registered contacts. The DFS can be reached at 1-877-693-5236.

Florida's Deadlines and Your Rights During the Claims Process

Florida law imposes strict timelines on insurance companies handling property claims. Under Section 627.70131, Florida Statutes, an insurer must acknowledge receipt of a claim within 14 days and begin an investigation promptly. The insurer must then pay or deny the claim within 90 days of receiving proof of loss — though this window can be extended under defined circumstances such as an ongoing investigation or a declared state of emergency.

For Orlando policyholders, these deadlines are critical leverage points. When Great Lakes or its claims administrator fails to meet these statutory requirements, Florida law allows recovery of attorney's fees and court costs if you prevail in a subsequent lawsuit. This fee-shifting provision has historically been a powerful tool for policyholders, though recent legislative changes to Florida's bad faith and attorney's fee statutes — particularly under SB 2A (2023) — have altered some of these protections. An experienced property insurance attorney can advise you on how these changes affect your specific situation.

Common Reasons Great Lakes Denies or Underpays Orlando Claims

Surplus lines insurers like Great Lakes often issue policy language that differs substantially from standard admitted carrier forms. Orlando policyholders frequently encounter the following disputes:

• Concurrent causation exclusions: Great Lakes policies may contain anti-concurrent causation clauses that exclude coverage when an excluded peril (such as flood) contributes to a covered loss
• Late reporting denials: Insurers sometimes deny claims based on alleged late notice, even when the delay caused no prejudice to the insurer
• Scope disputes: The insurer's adjuster may underestimate repair costs using software like Xactimate at rates inconsistent with actual Orlando-area contractor pricing
• Mold and secondary damage exclusions: Water damage claims are frequently reduced or denied when mold or secondary deterioration is present
• Depreciation disputes: Disagreements over actual cash value versus replacement cost value calculations are extremely common

If your claim has been denied or you received a payment you believe is inadequate, you are not required to accept it. Florida law provides multiple avenues to challenge an insurer's determination.

The Appraisal Process and Litigation Options in Florida

Most Great Lakes policies contain an appraisal clause — a contractual dispute resolution mechanism that allows both sides to submit competing damage estimates to neutral appraisers. If the appraisers disagree, an umpire resolves the dispute. Florida courts have consistently enforced appraisal clauses, and invoking this process can be an efficient alternative to litigation when the coverage dispute is about the amount of loss rather than whether coverage applies at all.

When coverage itself is at issue — for example, when Great Lakes has denied your claim outright — appraisal is typically not available and litigation may be necessary. In Orlando, property insurance cases are filed in Orange County Circuit Court for disputes exceeding $50,000, or in County Court for smaller claims. Under Florida's revised insurance statutes, filing a Civil Remedy Notice (CRN) with the Department of Financial Services before pursuing bad faith claims remains an important procedural step.

Public adjusters are another resource available to Orlando policyholders. Licensed under Florida Statutes Chapter 626, public adjusters work on your behalf — not the insurer's — to document and negotiate your claim. Their fees are capped by Florida law and are typically paid as a percentage of the settlement amount.

Steps to Protect Your Claim from the Start

The actions you take immediately after a loss can determine whether your Great Lakes claim is paid fully and promptly. Florida's humid subtropical climate makes Orlando properties particularly vulnerable to rapid secondary damage — mold can begin developing within 24 to 48 hours of a water intrusion event. Protecting your property from further damage is both a legal obligation under your policy and a practical necessity.

• Mitigate further damage promptly and keep all receipts for emergency repairs — these costs are typically reimbursable
• Do not discard any damaged materials until the insurer has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect them
• Obtain independent contractor estimates from licensed Orlando-area contractors, not just the insurer's preferred vendors
• Keep a detailed log of every communication with Great Lakes, including dates, names, and summaries of conversations
• Request a complete copy of your policy, including all endorsements and exclusions, in writing
• Submit a sworn proof of loss within the timeframe required by your policy — typically 60 to 90 days after the loss

If the insurer schedules an examination under oath (EUO), consult with an attorney before attending. An EUO is a formal proceeding and your answers can be used in subsequent coverage disputes or litigation. Having legal representation at this stage is not an admission of wrongdoing — it is prudent protection of your rights.

Orlando property owners dealing with Great Lakes Insurance claims are navigating a complex intersection of surplus lines regulation, Florida statutory law, and policy-specific language that often favors the insurer. Acting quickly, documenting thoroughly, and seeking experienced legal counsel when your claim is disputed are the most effective strategies for achieving a fair recovery.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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