Who's the Boss After a Loss?

Posted: 6 years, 10 months ago

Updated December 2025

Your Duties After a Loss: What to Do in 2025

When something unexpected happens—a storm, a burst pipe, a vehicle accident, or damage to your business—your insurance is there to help you recover. That’s why individuals, families, and business owners invest in coverage year after year: to protect what matters most and manage life’s biggest risks. Insurance is a conditional contract, meaning if you meet certain responsibilities, the insurance company will fulfill theirs by covering the loss according to the policy. Understanding your duties after a loss helps ensure your claim moves quickly, smoothly, and fairly. Here’s what to do—and what to expect—if you ever need to file a claim in 2025.

1. Protect: Prevent Further Damage

Before anything else, make sure everyone is safe. Contact emergency services if needed.
Once the immediate danger is handled, your first responsibility is to prevent additional damage.

Most policies require you to:

✔ Protect the property from further harm

Temporary repairs are encouraged—permanent repairs are not required right away.

Examples include:

• Tarping a damaged roof

• Shutting off water to a broken pipe

• Moving belongings out of harm’s way

• Freezing or storing perishable goods

✔ Make reasonable and necessary temporary repairs

Save receipts for any materials or services used during this step.

✔ Keep detailed records

This includes photos, videos, and itemized lists of damaged property. In the insurance world, this is called mitigating the loss. By keeping the situation from getting worse, you help protect yourself and help ensure your claim isn’t slowed down or denied.

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2. Report: Contact Your Agent Promptly

Once the situation is stabilized, reach out to your insurance agent or the claims department as soon as possible. Quick reporting helps get the claim moving and validates when the damage occurred. When you report the loss, be prepared to share:

• The location of the damage

• A description of what happened

• What appears damaged, lost, or missing

• Photos or videos

• Any steps you’ve taken to prevent further damage

• Receipts for temporary repairs

Throughout the process, you’ll need to cooperate with the claims adjuster. They may request:

• Invoices

• Estimates

• Police or incident reports

• Financial documents

• Additional photos or statements

This documentation helps the adjuster process the claim and protects you in case any liability issues arise.

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3. Repair: Gather Estimates & Schedule Work

Once the adjuster has assessed the damage, it’s time to get repair estimates. You have the right to choose any qualified contractor you prefer. Insurance companies may recommend vendors, but the decision is ultimately yours.

Important:

Only the claims adjuster can authorize payment.
Your Top O’ Michigan team cannot approve or promise payment for repairs without adjuster authorization—but we can guide you through every step and communicate directly with the carrier on your behalf. We are your advocate throughout the process.

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4. Plan & Prepare: Build a Response Plan Before a Loss Happens

The best way to handle a claim is to prepare before you ever need one. Creating a simple disaster plan saves time, prevents stress, and helps you react quickly.

For households:

• Know how to shut off utilities

• Create a family emergency plan

• Keep important documents stored safely (digital backups recommended)

• Maintain an up-to-date home inventory

• Identify trusted contractors ahead of time

For business owners:

• Assess your top risks

• Create evacuation and emergency procedures

• Build a vendor/contractor contact list

• Establish a temporary operating location

• Prioritize essential business functions

Being prepared makes recovery faster—and makes the claims process easier to navigate.

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We're Here to Represent YOU

At Top O’ Michigan, our job is to go to bat for you during a claim. We work to ensure:

• Your loss is handled fairly

• You are restored to your pre-loss condition

• Your coverage is applied correctly

• The company pays exactly what is owed—no more, no less

Every claim is unique. Some are simple; others can be complex. But you never have to navigate it alone. Our team is here to advocate for you, communicate with the carrier, and guide you from start to finish. If you ever experience a loss—or simply want to review your coverage—reach out. We’re always here to help you protect what matters most.

 

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