Home/Business Loss Checklists

Home/Business Loss Checklist - Spanish (PDF)

Severe storms, unexpected events that cause damage to your home or business, or liability incidents are always stressful. It is extremely important to remain calm so you respond appropriately. Follow these simple steps for property and liability losses, and have peace of mind knowing you are taking appropriate action:

Property

• Assess the medical condition of all parties involved. If anyone has sustained a serious injury requiring medical assistance, call 911 immediately.
• Stay at least 10 feet away from any downed power line, which you should never assume is safe to approach. Secure the area around the downed power line so others are kept a safe distance away and contact your local power company to alert them of the situation.
• If you detect the smell associated with a natural gas leak, get yourself and everyone else away from the premises as quickly as possible. Although natural gas does not have any odor, a distinctive smell similar to rotten eggs is added to help with the detection of a leak. Contact your natural gas provider as soon as possible to alert them of the situation
• If there are any broken water pipes, shut off the damaged supply line as quickly as possible. All properties have a main shut off valve and most have additional shut off valves for other sections of the home or business. If a pipe bursts, even a two-minute delay can result in an additional thirty gallons of water spilled. Thirty gallons of water is similar to the amount of water in a full bathtub. Just imagine how much damage can result from a bathtub full of water released into inappropriate areas of your home or business.
• Protect the property from further damage. This may include covering holes in the roof, walls, doors and windows with plastic or boards, or extracting water. Be careful not to risk your own safety in making these temporary repairs and beware of contractors encouraging you to spend too much money on temporary repairs.
• Retain all receipts associated with the loss – temporary repairs and additional living expenses. Do not discard any damaged Property or begin permanent repairs without prior approval from your claim representative.
• Notify your insurance agent or insurance company with details about the loss as soon as reasonably possible. Once we are notified of a covered loss, we will be there to assist you every step of the way.

Liability

• Assess the medical condition of all parties involved. If anyone has sustained a serious injury requiring medical assistance, call 911 immediately.
• Obtain contact information for all involved parties and any witnesses – name, address and phone number.
• Thoroughly document all circumstances surrounding the loss. Identify any visible hazards or debris that may be related to the incident. In the event of a slip and fall, document the clothing and footwear worn by the injured party.
• Retain all items related to the incident.
• Notify your insurance agent or insurance company with details about the incident as soon as reasonably possible. Once we are notified of the situation, we will be there to investigate the incident and assist you every step of the way.