Damage Report

Checklist for claims:

1. Checking the deductible

Check the contract documents to see how high the agreed deductible is. For each claim, the customer pays the deductible agreed in the insurance policy. If this is higher than the claim, it is not worth reporting to the insurer. I would be happy to support you as your insurance broker. Please note that minor claims should not be reported if possible. Please ask us for more information.

2. Reporting a claim

Always report a claim as quickly as possible, ideally within 48 hours of the claim occurring, in writing by fax. Take
photos of the damage. So don’t have something repaired first and then send it to the insurance company. Copy all the documents you want to send to the insurance company. Describe the damage in detail and send
it to me. We will go through the claim together and then send it to the insurer. Please do not go it alone in this case. Every insurance company has experts who check the information and sometimes recreate it. If there are any inconsistencies, the insurer will initially postpone the settlement or refuse to settle the claim altogether.

3.Minimize the damage and follow the insurer’s instructions

Insured parties are obliged to keep the damage as low as possible. As far as circumstances permit, everything must be done to keep the damage as low as possible. It is best to ask the insurance company or your broker what specific precautions you need to take in this regard.

4. Police report with stolen goods list

Damage caused by theft, burglary, vandalism or robbery must be reported to the relevant police station immediately. Make a note of the relevant file number. The insurer and the police usually request a list of the items that have gone missing, a so-called “stolen goods list”. It is therefore advisable to create and make this list available as soon as possible.

5. Change to the damage site

Don’t clean everything up straight away; the insurer has the right to inspect any destroyed items. If an insured event occurs, the damage site should be left unchanged until it has been approved by the insurer’s or broker’s expert. Please take photos of the damage. If changes to the damage site are unavoidable, the damaged parts should be stored elsewhere until an inspection can be carried out. Under no circumstances should repairs be commissioned without the insurer’s prior written approval.

6. Cooperation with insurer

Please allow the insurer to carry out any investigation into the cause and extent of the damage, provide full information on this, and provide evidence as quickly as possible if the insurer requests it.

7. If lost items are found

If insured items are found, the insurer should always be informed immediately.

8. Legal protection

First contact the insurance broker, then the insurer, then hire a lawyer. You must always obtain a confirmation of coverage from the insurer beforehand, otherwise you risk losing benefits.