Filing a commercial property claim after a disaster is complex, and small missteps can slash your payout or delay recovery. Avoid these five common errors:
| # | Costly Mistake | Why It Hurts Your Claim |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missing policy deadlines for notice, mitigation, or proof of loss | Gives the carrier a contractual reason to deny or limit payment. |
| 2 | Relying solely on the insurer’s adjuster for scope and valuation | Lets the carrier anchor the estimate low and overlook hidden damage. |
| 3 | Underestimating hidden or business-interruption losses | Leaves roof, mechanical, or revenue impacts off the table, shrinking your settlement. |
| 4 | Poor documentation of expenses and communications | Untracked invoices, receipts, and emails make it hard to prove the full claim value. |
| 5 | Waiting to hire independent experts (public adjuster, forensic consultant) until after a low offer arrives | You lose leverage and may miss critical early-stage evidence collection. |
Quick-Fix Checklist
- Calendar every policy deadline the day the loss occurs.
- Keep a loss diary: dated photos/videos, mitigation receipts, contractor estimates.
- Quantify business-interruption losses early with CPA worksheets.
- Obtain an independent scope from licensed contractors or engineers.
- Engage a commercial public adjuster like The David Group on day one for advocacy and proof-of-loss preparation.
If you have questions about your commercial insurance claim, please reach out to us at our homepage.