Claims
Something happened. Here is exactly what to do.
Call your carrier's claims line first to get the claim open, then call us. We will help you understand the process and follow it through.
If anyone is hurt or in danger
Call 911 first. Always.
Insurance comes second. Get people safe, then worry about the paperwork.
Step By Step
What to do, by claim type
Report your claim to the carrier as soon as you reasonably can, then call us. We cannot approve or deny a claim, only the carrier does that, but we can make sure it is filed properly and chase it when it stalls.
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Move to a safe place if the vehicles are drivable and it is safe to do so.
- Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance companies, and policy numbers with the other driver.
- Photograph both vehicles, the damage, the position of the cars, the street, and any skid marks or debris.
- Get the police report number if an officer attends.
- Note names and numbers of any witnesses.
- Report the claim to your carrier, then call us at (503) 285-2546.
Do not agree to settle privately at the scene. Damage that looks minor often is not, and injuries often surface a day or two later.
- Stop the damage from getting worse if you safely can. Shut off water, tarp a roof, board a window.
- Do not throw damaged property away until it has been documented or inspected.
- Photograph and video everything, wide shots and close-ups.
- Keep receipts for emergency repairs and for temporary lodging if you cannot stay in the home.
- Report the claim to your carrier, then call us so we can track it with you.
Most policies need you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Emergency mitigation is usually covered; letting avoidable damage continue may not be.
- Call the police and get a report number. Nearly every carrier needs one.
- Do not tidy up before the police and, where relevant, the adjuster have seen the scene.
- List what was taken, with model numbers, serial numbers, and approximate buy dates.
- Find receipts, photos, or original packaging where you can.
- Report the claim to your carrier, then call us.
A phone-camera walkthrough of each room, filmed once a year and stored in the cloud, is the single most useful thing you can do before a theft claim ever happens.
- Make the site safe and secure it against further loss.
- If an employee is injured, follow your workers’ compensation reporting requirements, the timelines are short and set by state law.
- Document damage to premises, stock, equipment, and vehicles separately.
- Record business interruption from the first day: lost bookings, closed hours, spoiled inventory.
- Report the claim, then call us and we will help you keep the threads straight.
Commercial claims often touch several policies at once. Property, liability, commercial auto, and workers’ comp. Sorting out which is which is exactly what we are here for.
Where We Fit
What an agent can and cannot do
Being straight about this saves everyone time when something has gone wrong.
We can
Explain what your policy actually covers, help you report the claim correctly, tell you what the adjuster will want, follow up when things go quiet, and help you understand a settlement offer.
We cannot
Approve, deny, or pay a claim. Those decisions sit with the carrier and its adjuster. What we can do is make sure your side of it is complete and pressed properly.
Questions
Claim questions we hear most
Should I call you or the carrier first?
Call the carrier's claims line first so the claim is opened and timestamped, then call us. Many carriers run 24/7 claims intake while our office keeps business hours.
Will filing a claim raise my rates?
It might, depending on the claim type, fault, your history, and the carrier. For small losses close to your deductible it is worth calling us to think it through before filing.
What is a deductible again?
The amount you pay out of pocket before the policy pays. A $1,000 deductible on a $4,000 loss means the carrier pays $3,000. Higher deductibles lower your premium and raise your exposure.
How long do claims take?
A simple auto glass claim can be same-week. A large property loss can take months. The single biggest accelerator is complete documentation submitted early.
What if my claim is denied?
Ask for the denial in writing with the specific policy language cited, then call us. Denials are sometimes based on a misunderstanding of the facts, and those are worth challenging.
Related coverage
Need to talk it through right now?
Call (503) 285-2546 during business hours and you will get a person, not a queue.