Commercial Property Insurance: Real Claims Examples

Learn from the loss. Strengthen your next policy.

Explore the claim examples, identify the questions they raise, and ask Casurance to review your future coverage needs.

• Illustrative scenarios with practical lessons
• Building, contents and income considerations
• A future coverage review tailored to your property

Create a clear record of affected property

• Photograph: affected rooms, equipment and inventory when safe.
• Identify: item ownership and where it was located.
• Support: collect receipts and pre-loss records.

When it is safe to do so, photograph the affected rooms, equipment, inventory and building components. Keep a list of damaged items and note their location. Gather available purchase records, maintenance documents and pre-loss photographs. Separate your property from tenant-owned or customer-owned items so the adjuster can review ownership.

Protect the property and keep receipts

• Safety first: follow emergency-service instructions.
• Temporary measures: document work to prevent more damage.
• Keep receipts: discuss permanent repairs with the insurer.

Follow emergency-service instructions and avoid unsafe areas. Arrange reasonable temporary measures to prevent further damage when safe, and keep invoices and a record of the work. Discuss permanent repairs and disposal of damaged items with the insurer so important evidence is not lost before inspection.

Track the effect on operations and rent

• Dates: log closures, restricted access and reopening.
• Income: organize sales reports, payroll and rent rolls.
• Extra costs: retain receipts and explain the expense.

Record closure dates, restricted access, interrupted tenant operations and the timeline for reopening. Keep sales reports, rent rolls, payroll records and additional-expense receipts organized by period. These records can help an adjuster assess a requested business income or rental income claim, subject to the coverage purchased.

Keep the claim file in one place

• Report the loss using your carrier's claims instructions.
• Keep the claim number and adjuster's contact details together.
• Date your photographs, correspondence and follow-up notes.

Report the loss promptly using the carrier's claims instructions. Save the claim number, adjuster's contact details, policy documents, photographs and correspondence together. Maintain a dated log of calls, inspections, estimates and requested documents. Ask for clarification when a request or coverage explanation is unclear.

Document the source of water damage

• Source: record where water entered and when it was discovered.
• Evidence: keep plumber or restoration reports.
• Coverage: let the insurer review the cause and policy terms.

Describe when the problem was discovered, where water entered and what was observed. Preserve plumber or restoration reports and photographs where available. Do not assume every water event is treated alike. The insurer must review the cause, applicable endorsements and exclusions before determining how the policy responds.

Coordinate estimates, repairs and the recovery timeline

• Scope: share contractor estimates with the adjuster.
• Progress: record permits, change orders and work completed.
• Settlement: ask about remaining documents and deductible treatment.

Share contractor estimates with the adjuster and identify differences in scope, materials or repair methods. Keep records of permit requirements, change orders and work completed. Ask which costs and documentation remain outstanding, and request an explanation of how the deductible and settlement provisions apply to the claim.

Use the experience to review future coverage

• Revisit the scheduled buildings and insured values.
• Discuss deductibles and the income protection you need.
• Use the quote form for future coverage, not a current loss.

After the immediate claim response, review the building schedule, values, deductibles and recovery needs with your agent. The quote form on this page is for prospective insurance, not for reporting or settling an existing claim. Contact your current carrier to report a loss; ask Casurance for help locating the appropriate claims contact.

Build a claim file you can actually use

Policy & claim details

Declarations, claim number and adjuster's contact information.

Damage & repairs

Photographs, estimates, invoices and maintenance records.

Operations & follow-up

Income records, closure dates and a dated correspondence log.

Use the lesson. Review tomorrow's protection.

Review my future coverage

Coverage depends on the policy issued, its terms, limits, deductibles and exclusions. Submitting a request does not bind coverage.