Start an Insurance Claim Tonight
People and immediate hazards come before paperwork. Once it is safe, document conditions before cleanup, prevent reasonable further damage and contact the insurer using the policy or its official website.
Mitigate, but do not over-repair
Policies commonly expect reasonable steps to prevent additional loss. Make urgent temporary fixes only when safe, photograph before and after, and retain receipts. Ask before permanent work when possible.
Build an evidence set
A useful set connects each item to the event: overview images, detailed images, serial numbers, purchase records, estimates, reports and a chronological note of calls.
Coverage is policy-specific
A loss can be real yet excluded, below the deductible or subject to limits. Avoid promising coverage. Record the insurer's explanation and request written decisions.
Choose the branch that matches
For safe evidence collection, use the private insurance evidence checklist.
After a road collision, preserve the scene with the safety-first car accident checklist.
If emergency work cannot wait, document temporary repairs and every cost.
If the response stalls, build a claim delay or denial record around the written reason.
For damaged belongings, create a room-by-room property inventory.
Before permanent repairs, review the post-disaster contractor checks.
When a tenant's belongings are stolen, coordinate the renters claim and landlord records.
Questions people ask before acting
Should I take photographs before contacting the insurer?
Take safe overview and detail photographs before cleanup when delay does not create danger. Do not postpone emergency help or reasonable damage control for a photograph.
Can I make a temporary repair before an adjuster arrives?
A safe step to prevent further damage may be necessary. Record the condition before and after, keep receipts and ask the insurer about inspection and retained materials.
Does completing an evidence checklist prove coverage?
No. Evidence explains the event and loss. Policy wording, exclusions, limits and the insurer's review determine coverage.
TONIGHT.you cannot access accounts, file reports or determine coverage. Use official apps and websites; never send us account numbers, identity documents or claim files.