About Us

Q: Why should I hire a property damage lawyer instead of handling my claim myself?

Insurance companies have experienced adjusters and lawyers whose job is to pay you as little as possible. When you hire a property damage attorney, you level the playing field. Our attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers — we know exactly how insurance companies evaluate and minimize claims, and we use that knowledge to ensure you receive the full settlement your policy entitles you to. Our clients consistently recover significantly more than the insurance company's initial offer.

Q: What does 'No Win, No Fee' mean for my property damage case?

It means you pay nothing unless we win your case. There are no upfront fees, no retainer, and no hourly charges. If we recover money for you, our fee comes as a percentage of what we recover. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. This makes it possible for any Florida homeowner or business owner to access top-level legal representation regardless of their financial situation.

Q: How long will my property damage claim take to resolve?

Every case is different depending on the complexity of your claim, the insurance company involved, and whether litigation is required. Many property damage claims settle within several months once an attorney is involved. Complex cases or those requiring litigation may take longer. What we can tell you is that having an attorney typically accelerates the process significantly — insurance companies take claims more seriously when they know a law firm is involved.

Q: What types of property damage claims does Florida Advocates handle?

We handle all types of property damage insurance claims including hurricane and storm damage, water damage, roof damage, fire and smoke damage, mold damage, sinkhole damage, business interruption claims, bad faith insurance disputes, and claim denials and underpayments. We represent homeowners, condo owners, commercial property owners, restaurants, businesses, and HOAs throughout Florida.

Q: Is there a deadline to file a property damage claim in Florida?

Yes. Florida has specific statutes of limitations for property damage claims. Generally, you have a limited window from the date of the loss or denial to take legal action. Waiting can seriously harm your case. We recommend contacting us as soon as possible after your claim is denied or you believe you're being underpaid — the sooner we get involved, the more options you have.

Q: What does it cost me if I lose my case?

Nothing. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. If we don't recover money for you, you pay no attorney's fees. There may be expert or litigation costs in certain cases, which we will discuss with you transparently before proceeding. We believe every Florida family deserves access to legal help — not just those who can afford to pay upfront.

Florida Property Damage Lawyers Who Know How Insurance Companies Think

This page has been reviewed and approved by Carlos D. Cabrera, Esq., a Florida-licensed property damage attorney with 24 years of experience and former insurance defense counsel.

Carlos D. Cabrera

Million Dollar Advocates Forum seal
AVVO 10/10 badge
Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated badge
Google Reviews stars (5.0 ★ — 44 Reviews)
BBB A+ badge

Carlos D. Cabrera, Esq. | Lead Attorney | 24 Years | Former Insurance Defense

We spent years defending insurance companies. Now we use that knowledge to help Florida families get the full settlement they deserve — not the lowball offer the insurance company hopes you’ll accept.

About us

We Worked for Insurance Companies. We Know Every Move They Make.

Florida Advocates is a property damage law firm based in Dania Beach, Florida. What makes us different from other property damage lawyers isn’t just what we’ve won — it’s where we came from.

Our attorneys spent years on the other side of the table — representing insurance companies, learning how they evaluate claims, delay payments, and train their adjusters to minimize what they pay. When we switched sides, we brought all of that knowledge with us. And we use it every day to help Florida families recover what their policies actually owe them.

Since founding Florida Advocates, our team has handled over 100,000 insurance and injury cases statewide, recovered over $100 million for clients, and argued cases from county courts all the way to the Florida Supreme Court. Our attorneys have also written Florida’s leading legal textbooks on insurance law — not because we read about insurance claims, but because we’ve lived them for decades.

When your insurance company delays, denies, or underpays your property damage claim, you need lawyers who understand the playbook. We wrote it.

Award-Winning Property Damage Attorneys

Recovery

We don't just get your money — we get your home and your family back to normal. From first call to final check, we manage everything.

Understanding

We have families too. We understand what it feels like when your home — and your family's stability — is threatened. This is more than property. It's your life.

Results

Insurance companies count on you accepting their first offer. We don't let that happen. Our clients receive full recovery — not partial payments.

$ 0 M+

Recovered for Clients

0 +

Cases Handled

0 +

Years of Experience

0 +

Trials & Appelas Won

$ 0

Upfront. No Win, No Fee.

We Handle Everything

Our Attorneys

CARLOS D. CABRERA, ESQ.

Lead Property Damage Attorney

24 Years Experience | Former Insurance Defense Counsel | Million Dollar Advocates Forum | Florida Legal Elite | Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Carlos D. Cabrera is Florida Advocates’ lead property damage attorney, bringing 24 years of experience and a rare perspective — he spent years defending insurance companies before switching to represent the policyholders they denied. He has recovered millions of dollars for Florida homeowners, condo owners, and businesses whose insurance claims were denied, delayed, or underpaid. Carlos is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, has been recognized by Florida Legal Elite, and is fully bilingual in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve Florida’s diverse communities.

Notable Results:

$3,000,000 — Condo fire damage recovery
$1,000,000 — Waterfront restaurant hurricane claim
$750,000 — Restaurant fire (neighboring property fault)

JORGE LUIS MONTERO, ESQ.

Property Damage Attorney

J.D., University of Miami School of Law | 26+ Years Insurance Litigation | Bilingual English/Spanish | Member, National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA)

Jorge Luis Montero brings a powerful personal perspective to property damage law. Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in South Florida after migrating to the United States during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, Jorge understands firsthand what it means for a family to start over — and what it means when an insurance company makes recovery harder than it should be. A graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Jorge has 26 years of insurance litigation experience on both the plaintiff and defense sides. He is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

CHRISTOPHER M. TUCCITTO, ESQ.

Managing Attorney

J.D., University of Florida | Managing Attorney | Insurance Coverage & Litigation | Published Author on Florida Insurance Law

Christopher Tuccitto serves as Managing Attorney at Florida Advocates, overseeing the firm’s insurance litigation practice from Tampa. A University of Florida law graduate, Chris specializes in insurance coverage investigations, policy interpretation, and drafting complex demands and lawsuits against insurance carriers. He is a published author on Florida insurance law topics and regularly contributes to the firm’s blog on evolving property insurance issues affecting Florida homeowners and businesses.

RUSSEL LAZEGA, ESQ.

Founding Attorney

Russel Lazega founded Florida Advocates after beginning his career at the Florida Department of Insurance Legal Services Division — where he literally prosecuted insurance companies that violated the Florida Insurance Code. Russ graduated with honors from Florida State University College of Law, where he served on the Law Review, and clerked for Chief Justice Harry Lee Anstead of the Florida Supreme Court. He holds a perfect 10/10 rating from AVVO and Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating for skill and professionalism. Russ has been named to Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite in insurance law, served as President of the South Broward Bar Association, and has written Florida’s leading legal texts on insurance — including presenting insurance reform proposals directly to the Florida Legislature and Governor.

SETTLEMENT RESULTS

Results That Speak for Themselves

$ 0

Property Damage

Restaurant fire caused by faulty wiring in neighboring property. Liability proven through fire inspector findings. The neighboring restaurant’s insurer settled.

$ 0

Property Damage

Commercial property claim against 4 defendants. Liability proven against COA and contractor after complex multi-party dispute.

$ 0

Water Damage

Condo water damage — insurance initially offered only $17,000 arguing repairs weren’t like-for-like. We proved otherwise.

$ 0

Property Damage

Business interruption — restaurant closed 18 months from plumbing failure. Insurer denied under exclusion. We found coverage through policy endorsement.

$ 0

Property Damage

Condo damaged by pool overflow after improper maintenance. COA found negligent for hiring an unqualified pool cleaner and mitigation company.

$ 0

Property Damage

Condo flooded during roof replacement. Proved COA was ultimately liable for negligently hiring the contractor who caused the damage.

$ 0

Hurricane Damage

Hurricane Irma — insurer’s estimate fell below the hurricane deductible. We proved the full extent of damage through independent engineer inspection.

$ 0

Water / Mold Damage

Water/mold damage vs HOA. HOA offered only $14,000. We engaged our own engineer who documented extensive damages, leading to full settlement.

$ 0

Fire Damage

The explosion caused fire damage. The insurer denied because the agent failed to renew proper coverage. We proved the client had requested renewal — the agent’s insurer settled.

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Only attorneys who have won $1M+ verdicts/settlements — less than 1% of U.S. lawyers qualify

AVVO 10/10 Rating

AVVO's highest possible attorney rating for skill and client satisfaction

Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated

Highest peer-review rating for legal ability and ethical standards

Florida Trend Legal Elite

Named among Florida's top insurance attorneys by Florida Trend Magazine

BBB A+ Accredited

Better Business Bureau A+ rating for business ethics and client service

Florida Supreme Court

Cases argued and won from trial courts to the Florida Supreme Court

FAQ Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Property Damage Law Firm

Why should I hire a property damage lawyer instead of handling my claim myself?

What does 'No Win, No Fee' mean for my property damage case?

How long will my property damage claim take to resolve?

What types of property damage claims does Florida Advocates handle?

Is there a deadline to file a property damage claim in Florida?

What does it cost me if I lose my case?

Call us today at

About Us

Florida Property Damage Lawyers Who Know How Insurance Companies Think

Carlos D. Cabrera

About us

We Worked for Insurance Companies. We Know Every Move They Make.

Award-Winning Property Damage Attorneys

Recovery

Understanding

Results

Recovered for Clients

Cases Handled

Years of Experience

Trials & Appelas Won

Upfront. No Win, No Fee.

We Handle Everything

Our Attorneys

CARLOS D. CABRERA, ESQ.

Lead Property Damage Attorney

JORGE LUIS MONTERO, ESQ.

Property Damage Attorney

CHRISTOPHER M. TUCCITTO, ESQ.

Managing Attorney

RUSSEL LAZEGA, ESQ.

Founding Attorney

SETTLEMENT RESULTS

Results That Speak for Themselves

Property Damage

Property Damage

Water Damage

Property Damage

Property Damage

Property Damage

Hurricane Damage

Water / Mold Damage

Fire Damage

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

AVVO 10/10 Rating

Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated

Florida Trend Legal Elite

BBB A+ Accredited

Florida Supreme Court

FAQ Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Property Damage Law Firm

Phone Number :

Office Location :