Business Claims

How to make a claim

1. Ensure safety first. Call 911 for fire, medical, or security emergencies.
2. Prevent further damage (only if safe): shut water, board up, tarp, isolate equipment, move stock off wet floors.
3. Notify authorities for theft, vandalism, break & enter, or injuries on premises; obtain an occurrence/report number.
4. Contact us during business hours, or your insurer's 24/7 claims line after hours. Have your policy number and a short description of what happened.
5. Preserve evidence. Take photos/video before cleanup; keep damaged items unless unsafe to store.
6. Do not admit liability or sign releases. Your insurer will guide communications with third parties.

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Property claims (Commercial)

• Make reasonable emergency repairs (board-ups, tarps, water extraction) to protect from further loss; keep all receipts.
• Document damage to buildings, equipment, stock, and tenant improvements-wide shots, close-ups, serial numbers.
• Inventory affected stock (SKUs, quantities, cost, salvage value). Separate damaged from undamaged if practical.
• Report theft/vandalism to police and obtain an occurrence number.
• Proof of ownership/value may be requested: invoices, statements, manuals, photos, depreciation schedules.
• Your adjuster will advise on contractor selection; preferred vendors can streamline estimates and approvals.

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General Liability (CGL)

• If you're served with legal papers (Statement of Claim, Demand Letter): contact us immediately-court timelines are strict.
• Do not admit fault or offer to settle. Provide the claimant's correspondence to your insurer for a formal response.
• Incident on premises? Complete an internal incident report; photograph the area; retain maintenance logs, inspection records, and training documents.
• Witness details: names, contact info, brief statements if available.
• Surveillance footage: export and preserve a copy (and the retention log) as soon as possible.
• Potential claims should be reported even if no lawsuit has started yet-early notice helps preserve evidence.

Common scenarios

• Slip, trip & fall: photos of hazards, cleaning logs, weather records, signage.
• Third-party property damage: photos, repair estimates, equipment settings/records if relevant.
• Tenant's legal liability: damage to rented premises-report immediately and keep invoices/quotes.

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Products Liability

If you receive an allegation that your product caused injury or property damage, notify us immediately.

• Complaint vs. claim: A complaint seeking refund/replacement only is typically not covered; a claim alleges injury or consequential damage-report right away.
• Preserve the product (and packaging) and isolate the affected lot. Keep the chain of custody intact.
• Collect documentation: specifications, QC/QA records, testing, instructions/manuals, warnings/labels, batch/lot numbers, and internal investigation notes.
• Vendor/contractor agreements: share any hold-harmless/indemnity provisions and certificates of insurance; your insurer may tender to others if applicable.
• Do not authorize recalls or public notices without discussing with your insurer/legal counsel.

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Business Interruption (BI) & Extra Expense

• Track downtime dates/times and when each location/department returns to normal.
• Keep financial records: sales history, budgets/forecasts, payroll/time sheets, and seasonal trends.
• Log extra expenses intended to reduce the loss (temporary premises, expedited shipping, overtime, rentals)-keep invoices and rationale.
• Supply chain issues: note impacted suppliers/customers and any alternative arrangements.
• Waiting period/deductible: many BI forms have a time deductible; your adjuster will confirm.
• Civil authority/access coverage may apply when premises are inaccessible-ask your adjuster to review your wording.

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Cyber & Data Incidents

• Disconnect affected devices from the network; do not power off servers unless instructed by your breach coach.
• Call your cyber hotline (if purchased) for immediate triage; do not pay ransoms or contact threat actors.
• Preserve logs, backups, and evidence; do not delete or "clean" systems before forensics.
• Notification requirements (privacy regulators/impacted individuals) will be coordinated by breach counsel through your insurer.
• Phishing/wire fraud: contact your bank/fraud department immediately and your insurer to discuss crime coverage.

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Commercial Auto

• At the scene: ensure safety, call police/ambulance if needed, exchange information, photograph vehicles and surroundings.
• Towing: confirm rates before hook-up; note the vehicle's storage location.
• Report the loss to us or your insurer's 24/7 line and follow instructions (collision reporting centres may apply in your area).

See also: Automobile Claims

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Evidence & documentation checklist

• Photos/video of damage, scene, and contributing conditions (lighting, signage, weather).
• Police/incident reports and occurrence numbers.
• Invoices, purchase orders, serial numbers, stock lists, and depreciation schedules.
• Maintenance logs, inspection sheets, training records, safety policies, and cleaning schedules.
• Surveillance footage exports, IT logs, access logs.
• All correspondence with third parties (demand letters, emails, legal documents).

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How to help speed up your claim

• Single point of contact at your business to coordinate info/approvals.
• Two-three estimates where appropriate (your adjuster may direct preferred vendors).
• Organize files (photos, receipts, logs) and share via a single link or email thread.
• Daily log of site access, work performed, temporary protections, and equipment rentals.

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