Law firms that suffer business interruption because of Hurricane Irma should document not only damage to their office and what they did to get up and running again, but also the number of referrals they would normally get during that time. This is especially important for firms that are contingency-fee-based.

While Florida's insurance industry may be better prepared to handle claims than it was in the past, widespread damage may make it more difficult to get claims paid, lawyers said. The overarching recommendation from insurance lawyers is that firms carefully document losses and what they are doing to mitigate them.

William Simonitsch, a partner with K&L Gates in Miami who advises clients on legal risk management, offers three rules that apply universally when it comes to filing an insurance claim: First, don't miss deadlines to file for damage. The second rule is that claimants need to keep careful records that document how things were before the storm, losses and expenses after the storm, and steps taken to mitigate the damage. They should have photos and copies of all estimates, receipts and invoices. Finally, claimants should keep track of all communications with the insurance company. This includes not only emails and letters but all phone calls, including the ID number of who answered the phone when they called and what was discussed.