Filing an Insurance Claimthe right way.
What you do in the first hours after a loss shapes everything that follows. Here’s how to protect your property, your evidence, and your recovery, from the moment damage happens through the day you file.
Before you file
The first hoursdecide the claim.
A property loss is disorienting, the house is wet or burned, and the insurance company is already asking questions. The instinct is to call the carrier, answer everything, and start cleaning up. That instinct, well-meaning as it is, can quietly cost you thousands.
This page walks through what to do the moment damage happens, what to have ready to file, the mistakes that shrink settlements, and where a licensed public adjuster fits in. When you’re ready for the full process, see how it works.
Right after a loss
Six moves to makebefore anything else.
In order, and in the first hours and days. Safety first, evidence second, paperwork last, with a call to us before you lock anything in with the carrier.
Make the property safe
Get everyone to safety first. Shut off the water main, the electrical panel, or the gas if the damage calls for it, and only re-enter once it’s safe to do so. Your wellbeing comes before any paperwork.
Call the right authorities
If there was a fire, a break-in, or a serious hazard, call the fire department or police and get a report number. Those official reports become part of your claim record and back up the cause of loss.
Document everything before you touch it
Photograph and video the damage from every angle before cleanup begins. Capture the source, the spread, and any damaged contents. Once drying or demolition starts, that evidence is gone for good.
Mitigate further damage, and keep receipts
Your policy requires you to prevent further loss, tarp the roof, extract standing water, board a window. Do what’s reasonable, save every receipt, and don’t throw damaged items away until they’re documented.
Call a public adjuster before you call the carrier
Before you give a recorded statement or sign anything, talk to a licensed public adjuster. Early engagement protects the evidence and keeps you from locking in an underpaid claim.
Let us file it, properly documented from day one
We prepare and file the claim on your behalf, with a written scope of loss and supporting documentation, so the carrier has no excuse to delay or understate it.
What to gather
The four thingsto have ready when you file.
You don’t need all of it to get started, we can find most of it with you. But the more you have on hand, the faster we move from the first call to the first inspection.
- Policyholder
Who you are, on the policy
- Name of insured
- Address
- Phone
- Policy number
The basics every carrier asks for in the first thirty seconds. The name and address need to match the policy exactly, and the policy number is how the carrier locates your coverage. If you don’t have it on hand, no problem, we can usually pull it from the carrier once we have your name and the property address.
- The loss
What happened, and where
- Date and time of loss
- Location of incident
- Detailed description of damages
A clear picture of the loss event itself: when it happened, where on the property it started, what triggered it if you know, and what it ended up damaging. The more specific the description, the harder it is for the carrier to dispute the cause later.
- Authorities
Who else has been notified
- Fire department
- Police
- Other emergency services
If the fire department, police, or any other emergency authority responded, we want every detail, agency, report number, responding unit. Their reports become part of the official claim record and often back up the cause-of-loss story the carrier might otherwise dispute.
- Mitigation
What you’ve already done
- Emergency service companies contacted
- Damage mitigation steps taken
Most policies reimburse reasonable steps taken to prevent further damage, when documented. If you called a water-extraction crew, boarded windows, or tarped a roof, tell us who you called and what they did, and save every invoice. We fold it all into the claim.
Watch out for
Four mistakesthat cost policyholders money.
We see the same avoidable missteps over and over. None of them are obvious in the moment, which is exactly why they’re so expensive.
Giving a recorded statement unprepared
An off-the-cuff recorded statement can be used to narrow or deny coverage later. Know what your policy actually covers before you’re on the record.
Throwing away or repairing damaged property too soon
Discard or repair before it’s documented and you’ve erased the proof of your loss. Photograph and inventory everything first.
Accepting the first offer
The carrier’s opening number is rarely the full value owed under your policy. It’s a starting point for negotiation, not the finish line.
Underestimating the full scope of loss
Hidden damage behind walls, in the roof system, or in contents is routinely missed on a first walkthrough, and unclaimed damage is unpaid damage.
Why file with us
A licensed team,on your side from day one.
You shouldn’t have to negotiate against your own insurer while your home is in pieces. We prepare, file, and fight the claim for you, so you can focus on putting things back together.
- Licensed in Florida
Every Foremost adjuster is a state-licensed public insurance adjuster, bound by Florida law to represent you, not your insurer.
- No recovery, no fee
You don’t pay us unless we recover for you. Our incentives align with your settlement, period.
- 20,000+ claims handled
Over 18 years across South Florida. We know the carrier playbook because we’ve negotiated against it thousands of times.
Get Your Free Insurance Claim Review
Reach the firm directly.
A licensed adjuster responds within 2 hours. No recovery, no fee.
