How To Expedite the Fire Insurance Claims Process

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

If smoke and flames harm your business, filing a fire claim can get your company back up and running.

How To Quickly Handle Fire Insurance Claims

If a blaze damages your commercial property in Kennewick, WA, you will need to work hard to keep your business running. You will be busy checking inventory, calling your suppliers and updating your customers. You thus do not want to spend all of your time dealing with your insurance company as you make a fire claim. Here are some tips to expedite the claims process.

1. Secure the Premises

A fire can cause additional harm to the property once the blaze is extinguished. If the flames burned a hole in the roof, rainwater could then enter the premises and destroy your equipment. While fire restoration professionals should handle the bulk of the cleanup, you should take basic steps to cover any openings in the property and secure the windows and doors. This will mitigate further damage and reduce the remediation time.

2. Collect Records

The more quickly you provide damages estimates to your insurance provider, the earlier your fire claim will be settled. Gather any records that demonstrate how much each piece of destroyed property was worth. If you have business interruption insurance, you will also need to show proof of your company's income. You will thus need to collect financial statements and tax returns.

3. Take Photos

Ideally, you should keep all destroyed items on the premises until the insurance adjuster has had a chance to survey the fire damage. Sometimes, however, you may have to dispose of certain things in the building. Before you throw out those assets, take photos or videos of them. You can then submit these images online or give them directly to the adjuster.

If smoke and flames harm your business, filing a fire claim can get your company back up and running. The above tips should help you get reimbursed more quickly, allowing you to quickly re-open your business' doors.