| Everything seemed pretty simple when you | | | | weeks. |
| purchased that insurance policy. If you have a | | | | Call your agent. Many insurance companies ask |
| loss, just tell the insurance company about it and | | | | that you report your claim directly to the claims |
| you will get paid - Right? Well.... it may not be quite | | | | department. This is more efficient for them but |
| that easy. There are some basic steps you should | | | | not necessarily better for you. Your insurance |
| follow to make sure your insurance claim is paid | | | | agent may represent the company but his income |
| quickly and fully. | | | | depends on keeping his customers happy. |
| Prepare - in advance. The single most important | | | | Independent agents, in particular, are small |
| thing that will make your life easier in the event | | | | business owners and owe their primary loyalty to |
| of a loss is to be well prepared in advance. Do | | | | their business. If you're a small business owner, |
| you have offsite copies of your computer files? | | | | your insurance agent understands that his |
| What about paper files? If this is some kind of | | | | business depends on keeping his customers |
| property loss, you will need to document the | | | | happy. |
| value. If you have to try to reconstruct records | | | | Keep in touch with the adjuster. Ultimately the |
| that were destroyed, it will delay your insurance | | | | insurance company will assign an adjuster to work |
| payment and make it much harder for you to | | | | with you to estimate and pay the loss. Work |
| prove the value of your loss. | | | | closely with the adjuster and respond quickly and |
| Estimate your loss. While it may not be possible | | | | completely to his requests for information. The |
| to know the full extent of the loss, develop an | | | | easier you make his job, the quicker you will get |
| estimate. If it is close to or below your deductible, | | | | paid. |
| you are probably better off not filing the | | | | Consider an independent adjuster. If your loss is |
| insurance claim. Your rates will be based in part on | | | | large and complex, it may pay you to hire an |
| your claims history so there is no advantage to | | | | independent adjuster to work on your behalf. If |
| you in filing a claim you will end up paying for out | | | | you do decide to take this step, make sure you |
| of your own pocket. Be careful, however, as | | | | hire an adjuster who has experience with your |
| most insurance policies require you to report a | | | | type of business loss. |
| loss within a certain timeframe, usually 2 - 4 | | | | |