When your insurance company underpays, delays, or denies a South Carolina property claim, William J. Addis represents you — never the insurer — to recover what your policy actually owes.
South Carolina policyholders face hurricane impacts, severe tropical events, and ongoing storm exposure across the coastal and inland regions. These claims are frequently complex — and frequently underpaid.
Common South Carolina claim types we handle: hurricane and tropical storm wind damage; storm-surge losses on the coast; severe thunderstorm scope; flat-roof commercial claims.
South Carolina hurricane claims often hinge on wind-vs-flood determinations that carriers use to limit payouts. Documentation and policy interpretation matter enormously.
Important South Carolina disclosure
This page is an advertisement and a solicitation for public adjusting business by William J. Addis, licensed public adjuster (individual license #18667143). If you have an existing claim and are satisfied with your insurance carrier's offer, you may disregard this advertisement. Hiring a public adjuster is your choice — you have the right to negotiate your own claim, hire an attorney instead, or proceed without representation.
William J. Addis is licensed as a non-resident public insurance adjuster in South Carolina (license #18667143).
Public adjuster fees, contract terms, cancellation rights, and conduct standards are regulated by South Carolina law. Before signing any public adjuster contract, you have the right to review the contract terms, ask questions about the fee structure and services, and seek independent legal advice if desired. South Carolina requires written contracts for all public adjusting services; you should never pay a public adjuster before claim settlement, and you should never sign a contract that doesn't clearly state the fee.
Past results described on this website reflect outcomes achieved in specific prior claims; they are not guarantees, predictions, or warranties of future outcomes. Each claim is unique, and the outcome depends on the policy language, the facts of the loss, the carrier's position, and other factors that cannot be predicted in advance. Resolution Claims Consulting, LLC is licensed as a public adjusting firm in Illinois, Rhode Island, Colorado and Minnesota. In South Carolina, services are provided by William J. Addis under his individual license. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal services. If your claim involves a legal dispute that requires litigation, we may recommend you consult with a licensed attorney.
Verify our license through the South Carolina insurance regulator. License lookup links and contact information for the South Carolina insurance department are available on our Legal Disclaimers page.
South Carolina's coastal exposure makes it one of the most hurricane-vulnerable states in the country. Multiple major hurricanes in 2024 — Helene and Debby — produced statewide emergency declarations and triggered emergency adjuster permitting. Beyond hurricanes, the state experiences nor'easters, severe convective storms, hail, and tornadoes.
The events driving claim work:
Hurricane Helene (September 25-30, 2024). Governor McMaster declared a state of emergency due to Helene's effects. Statewide damage from wind, falling trees, and inland flooding. The emergency declaration was extended by 90 days into April 2025, indicating the magnitude of recovery work. Many Helene claims continue to reopen and supplement.
Hurricane Debby (August 4, 2024). Earlier 2024 hurricane that produced statewide emergency declaration. Combined with Helene, two major hurricane events in a single season produced significant statewide claim volume.
Hurricane Ian (September 2022). Ian produced significant South Carolina coastal damage. Many supplemental claims continue to surface as homeowners discover the full scope of damage years later.
Severe convective storm activity. South Carolina experienced significant non-hurricane severe weather in 2024, including the April 20, 2024 storm event that triggered emergency adjuster licensing across the state.
Coastal availability crisis. Between 2018 and 2023, South Carolina's homeowners insurance non-renewal rate increased 136% — the second-worst in the country, behind only Florida. Multiple major carriers have tightened underwriting or stopped writing new business in coastal areas. Hurricane deductibles have become widespread.
Tornado and wind exposure inland. South Carolina's interior produces tornado and severe-storm activity that doesn't get the attention of coastal hurricane events but drives substantial claim volume in upstate communities.
Hail damage statewide. South Carolina hail events produce roof damage, siding damage, and vehicle damage at scales similar to Tornado Alley states, particularly in upstate communities.
Hurricane claims engage every coverage line. South Carolina hurricane deductibles can be 2-10% of dwelling value. Carriers regularly underpay contents (Coverage C) and ALE (Coverage D) on otherwise well-handled hurricane claims.
The single biggest hurricane claim flashpoint. Wind damage is typically covered; flood damage typically isn't. Carriers often default to the flood exclusion when a wind argument would have produced coverage. Documentation of cause-of-loss matters significantly.
Upstate South Carolina hail claims often involve disputes about partial vs. full roof replacement, matching provisions, and soft-metal damage. Granule loss patterns dismissed as "wear and tear" can actually be hail bruising.
Tornado damage and tropical-storm wind damage involves the full coverage stack. The cause-of-loss determination matters when the same property has multiple damage types from a single storm system.
South Carolina commercial claims involve building, contents, and BI coverage. Small businesses and multifamily property owners are routinely underpaid because the BI calculation isn't built correctly.
Many South Carolina properties were hit by both hurricanes in 2024. Distinguishing damage from each event matters for coverage and deductibles. Carriers may attempt to attribute current damage to a prior event already settled.
South Carolina regulates public adjusters under Title 38, Chapter 92 of the South Carolina Code of Laws (Public Insurance Adjusters), enforced by the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI). Key requirements:
Verify any adjuster's license through the SCDOI's online lookup before signing anything. After major hurricanes, unlicensed solicitors often appear within hours offering "claim help" — many are unlicensed and some collect fees without ever filing a claim.
South Carolina's largest homeowners insurance writers include:
South Carolina's coastal insurance market has tightened substantially. The South Carolina Wind & Hail Underwriting Association (SCWHUA) provides wind/hail coverage for coastal properties that can't obtain it in the standard market. Hurricane deductibles are widespread; named-storm deductibles are increasingly common.
Often, yes. Supplemental claims for newly discovered damage or undocumented scope items are typically available within the policy's deadlines. Many South Carolina homeowners settled 2024 hurricane claims for amounts that didn't reflect full damage; supplementals continue to be filed and resolved. The SC governor's emergency declaration for Helene was extended by 90 days, into April 2025 — so notice and proof-of-loss windows have been generous on this event.
Most South Carolina property insurance policies require prompt notice of loss. The suit-limitation period for filing a lawsuit on a denied claim is typically governed by the policy contract — often 1-2 years from the date of loss in South Carolina. Don't assume your claim is past the deadline without checking the specific policy.
South Carolina hurricane deductibles are typically percentage-based (1-10% of dwelling coverage). They generally trigger when the National Weather Service issues a hurricane warning for South Carolina, with specific trigger language varying by policy. Wind/hail deductibles separate from hurricane deductibles can also apply to non-hurricane wind events. Check your declarations page for the specific deductibles and trigger conditions.
Wind damage is typically covered under your standard homeowners policy. Flood damage — including storm surge, surface water from heavy rain, and water from overflowing rivers — is typically excluded and requires separate flood insurance through NFIP or a private market. With hurricanes producing both wind and water damage, the cause-of-loss determination on each component matters significantly. Carriers often default to the flood exclusion when a wind argument would have produced coverage.
The South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association is the state's coastal wind pool — a market of last resort for coastal properties that can't obtain wind/hail coverage from standard carriers. Many coastal SC properties have standard homeowners coverage from one carrier and wind/hail coverage from SCWHUA — meaning hurricane claims involve two separate carriers.
South Carolina caps public adjuster fees at 10% of any insurance settlement or proceeds, and no fee may be collected before the claim settles (S.C. Code § 38-92-120(E)). Resolution Claims Consulting works on contingency only — a percentage of the recovery, agreed in writing before work begins. There are no upfront fees and no fee owed if no recovery is obtained.
Only if they hold an active South Carolina public adjuster license. Under §38-92-20(A), only licensed public adjusters may solicit insurance claim business from an insured. Most roofers and contractors don't hold this license. After major hurricanes, unlicensed solicitors often appear within hours offering "claim help" — verify any adjuster's license through SCDOI before signing anything.
The statutes, dollar figures, weather event data, regulatory rules, and market information cited on this page are drawn from the following sources. Information is current as of the date this page was last updated; insurance regulations and market data change — verify current rules with each state's Department of Insurance before relying on them for any specific claim or decision.
Tell us briefly what happened. We will review your policy and the insurer’s offer, then tell you straight whether there is more to recover — and how much.
This website advertises public insurance adjusting services. In Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and Rhode Island, services are provided by Resolution Claims Consulting, LLC, a licensed public adjusting firm. In Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, services are provided by William J. Addis as an individually licensed public insurance adjuster. Kentucky law currently bars public adjusters from negotiating with insurers (KRS 304.9-4331(7)), so we are not accepting Kentucky claims at this time. Both Resolution Claims Consulting and William J. Addis work only on behalf of policyholders and represent no insurance company. Public adjusters are not employees of any state, federal agency, or insurance carrier. Public adjuster services are not free; fees are paid by the insured, typically as a percentage of the recovery agreed in writing before work begins, and are subject to applicable state fee caps and statutes.
All recovery amounts, case studies, and settlement figures shown on this site reflect actual outcomes achieved by Resolution Claims Consulting, LLC for past clients. Client and carrier identities have been anonymized. Past results do not guarantee, predict, or imply any specific outcome on a future claim. Each insurance claim is unique. Outcomes depend on the policy language, the facts of the loss, applicable state law, the carrier's position, and many other factors that vary case to case.
Resolution Claims Consulting, LLC — Firm NPN 20764010. Licensed as a public adjusting firm in 4 states: Colorado #803346, Illinois #3002593563, Minnesota #40893260, Rhode Island #3003758028. Resolution Claims Consulting, LLC does not hold firm licenses in other states. William J. Addis — Individual NPN 18667143. Licensed as an individual public adjuster in 18 states: CO #559485, IL #18667143, KS #18667143, KY #1076611, MN #40771302, MO #8428075, NE #18667143, NV #3876040, OH #1743364, OK #3001586244, PA #1262857, RI #3003745104, SC #18667143, TN #3003380591, TX #2784759, UT #1084108, WA #1320332, WI #18667143. All licenses verifiable through each state's department of insurance public license lookup.
Every state's Department of Insurance offers free consumer assistance with insurance claims and disputes — you are not required to hire a public adjuster to file or pursue a claim. Contact your state Department of Insurance directly if you have questions about a claim or about working with a public adjuster.
