Claims

Contractor insurance claims: what to do and in what order

What to do in the first hour of a claim, the five things that damage a claim, and what to have ready when you report it.

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Report earlyEven if minor

PhotographBefore repairs

5 trapsThat damage claims

Keep recordsContracts and logs

The first hour matters more than anything after it

How a claim is handled in the first hour affects the outcome more than everything that follows. Two things decide most of it: how quickly it is reported, and what was said at the scene.

Report immediately, even if you think it is minor. A small claim reported late can be denied for late notice, and a claim that looks trivial often is not.

What to do first

Make the site safe
Get medical help if anyone is hurt
Photograph everything
Collect names and contact details
Report it, even if it looks minor

Report a claim

Five things that damage a claim

Admitting fault at the scene. You may not know the full picture, and a well meant apology can be recorded and used. Be helpful and cooperative, and let the investigation establish what happened.
Reporting late. Every policy requires prompt notice. Late reporting is one of the few reasons a genuinely covered claim gets denied.
Repairing the damage before it is documented. Once it is fixed, nobody can inspect it. Photograph everything before anything is moved or repaired.
Giving a recorded statement unprepared. You are entitled to understand the process before giving one. Ask what is needed and take advice first.
Missing paperwork. Contracts, change orders, daily logs, and subcontractor certificates all matter when a claim is investigated. Keeping them is easier than reconstructing them.

What to have ready when you report

What happened, when, and where
Who was involved, and their contact details
Photographs and video of the scene and the damage
Any witnesses and what they saw
The contract, and any relevant change orders
Whether anyone was injured, and whether medical help was sought
Whether the police or any authority attended

Report small claims too. A minor incident can become a large claim later, and if it was never reported the late notice can be the reason it is not covered. The cost of reporting something that turns out to be nothing is zero.

Common questions

How quickly should I report a claim?

Immediately. Every policy requires prompt notice, and late reporting is one of the few reasons a genuinely covered claim is denied. Report it even if you believe it is trivial.

Should I admit fault at the scene?

No. Be cooperative and helpful, but do not accept responsibility, because you may not know the full picture and an admission can be recorded and used. Let the investigation establish what happened.

Can I repair the damage before an adjuster sees it?

Make the site safe by all means, but photograph everything before anything is moved or repaired. Once it is fixed, nobody can inspect it and the claim becomes an argument about what was there.

What records should a contractor keep?

Contracts, change orders, daily logs, subcontractor certificates, and photographs of work in progress. When a claim is investigated, these documents decide most of the outcome, and keeping them is far easier than reconstructing them.

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