Would you like to discuss your claim?
ABRS is a Portuguese law firm with a practice dedicated to insurance claims. We handle hundreds of claims each year, and our team of three lawyers is available to assess your situation and explain how we can assist.
You can outline your enquiry in the form below. We will discuss the proposed work and fees with you before you decide whether to instruct us.
Who does the public adjuster’s job in Portugal?
If you are used to a system where a public adjuster acts for the policyholder, the usual point of contact in Portugal for legal representation in a disputed claim is a lawyer (advogado). A lawyer can review your claim, organise supporting evidence, correspond with the insurer, negotiate compensation and, where necessary, represent you in court. The scope of that representation is agreed with you.
This can apply to insurance disputes involving property damage, road accidents, work accidents and personal injuries. You may already have a claim reference, an inspection report, an offer or a refusal. Legal assistance is not limited to starting a court case.
Technical assessment remains a separate task. If your claim needs an engineer’s report, a vehicle valuation or medical evidence, an appropriately qualified expert may also be needed. A lawyer uses that evidence to support the legal claim. This is not a one-to-one professional equivalent: loss assessment and legal representation remain distinct, and you can also deal directly with your insurer.
What can a lawyer do with your insurance claim?
Review the insurer’s position
A lawyer examines the documents to identify what the insurer accepts, what it disputes and its reasons. For a claim under your own policy, that may involve reviewing cover, exclusions, limits and conditions. Where another person is alleged to be responsible, the legal basis of their liability also matters.
Organise the supporting evidence
The evidence should address the actual disagreement. It may include an accident report, photographs, repair estimates, medical reports, invoices and proof of lost income. A lawyer can identify gaps and assess whether further technical or medical evidence is needed.
Handle communications with the insurer
Within the agreed instructions, a lawyer can write to the insurer, set out your position, respond to its arguments and present supporting documents. You have an identified representative handling the legal correspondence.
Review and negotiate an offer
A lawyer can examine the proposed payment alongside the evidence and the terms of any settlement or release. Where there are grounds to dispute the offer, the lawyer can explain them to the insurer and seek a negotiated resolution. The outcome depends on the facts, evidence and applicable law.
Assess proceedings where necessary
If correspondence and negotiation do not resolve the disagreement, a lawyer can advise on the available legal route and its work, costs and risks. Appointing a lawyer does not mean that every claim must go to court.
Has the insurer refused your claim or made an offer you question?
Start with the written decision or offer. It helps distinguish a dispute about responsibility from one about policy cover, evidence or the amount proposed. A legal review may help clarify:
- A refusal that relies on a policy exclusion.
- A repair or total-loss assessment you disagree with.
- An offer that appears to leave out documented expenses or lost income.
- A personal-injury proposal whose medical basis is unclear.
- A settlement document you do not fully understand.
- A claim that has stopped progressing despite your replies.
For motor claims involving delay or refusal, see our guide to an insurance company not paying after a car accident in Portugal.
If your claim follows a road accident
A vehicle assessment is only one part of a claim when someone has also been injured. The legal review may need to consider medical evidence, expenses, lost income and the scope of the proposed settlement, alongside vehicle damage.
Our car accident guide for English-speaking residents and visitors explains the relevant issues. If you cannot use your vehicle, see our separate guide to loss-of-use compensation.
Before signing a motor settlement, identify the documents and calculations behind the offer. Our guide to documents to request before signing an agreement (Portuguese) provides a checklist.
What should you have ready for a review?
For an initial enquiry, explain the type of claim, the response received and the help you need. The lawyer can then clarify the documents required for the review and how to provide them.
- The insurer’s offer, refusal or latest correspondence.
- The claim reference and notification of the incident.
- The policy and its conditions, where relevant.
- Available accident, inspection or medical reports.
- Photographs, estimates, invoices and evidence of financial loss.
- Any settlement or release you have been asked to sign, and any deadline communicated to you.
You do not need to resolve every legal question before making an enquiry. Explain the stage the claim has reached and the point you want assistance with.
What does it cost to have a lawyer handle your claim?
Fees vary according to the type of claim, its complexity and the work required. Reviewing an offer, negotiating with an insurer and conducting court proceedings involve different scopes of work. Expert reports, court costs and other expenses are considered separately.
Depending on the case, we may agree to defer some or all of our legal fees until you receive money from the claim, so an upfront payment of those fees may not be required. The written agreement sets out what is deferred, any expenses payable sooner and what remains payable if the claim is unsuccessful.
Deferred payment is distinct from a fee entitlement that depends entirely on success. Article 106 of the Portuguese Bar Statute prohibits the quota litis arrangement it defines. Our guide to legal fees and deferred payment in Portugal explains the available arrangements in more detail.
You can discuss the options for your claim with the legal team by phone or through the form.
Phone: +351 923 241 549 (call to a Portuguese mobile network).
Does a complaint to the regulator replace legal representation?
The ASF supervises insurers, but it does not decide individual disputes about liability or the amount of compensation. A complaint about an insurer’s conduct and legal representation in your claim serve different purposes. The appropriate next step depends on what needs to be resolved.
Frequently asked questions
Is a public adjuster the usual representative for an insurance claim in Portugal?
The public adjuster role is not typical in Portugal. Where you want independent legal representation in an insurance dispute, a lawyer is usually the professional who reviews the claim, deals with the insurer and negotiates on your behalf. Technical inspections and valuations may require a separate qualified expert.
Can a lawyer help after the insurer has made an offer?
Yes. A lawyer can review an existing offer and its supporting documents. Explain whether you have accepted anything or signed a settlement, and whether a response deadline has been given.
Can a lawyer communicate with the insurer for me?
Yes, where that work is included in the agreed instructions. The scope of the representation and the information and decisions needed from you should be clarified at the outset.
Does appointing a lawyer mean going to court?
Not automatically. A lawyer assesses the claim and the available options. Negotiation may be appropriate; proceedings may need to be considered if the dispute remains unresolved or the circumstances require them.
Sources and review
- Law 10/2024: professional acts of lawyers and solicitors.
- Portuguese Insurance Contract Law.
- Portuguese Bar Statute, Articles 105 and 106: fees.
- ASF: complaints and the limits of its remit (PDF).
Author: Dra. Anabela Ribeirinho. Last reviewed: 11 October 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace the analysis of a specific case by a lawyer.