Immediately Following the Accident or Loss: Make an effort to avoid additional injuries or damage, and to minimize overall danger. Move vehicles out of roadways following an accident, for instance, or cut off water to stop a burst pipe from further flooding a property. If the situation calls for it, contact the relevant authorities — the police, fire department or 911. If witnesses observed the incident, gather their contact information. Their statements may be useful later on.

Reporting the Incident: Contact your insurance provider as quickly as possible to get the business insurance claim process started. Timely reporting often aids in getting a claim approved.

Working with an Adjuster: Your insurance company will assign your case to an adjuster who will assess damages, gather relevant information and report findings back to their company. Depending on the situation, this may require a phone call on your part, an in-person meeting where the incident occurred and/or submission of photos, videos and other relevant documentation.

Claims Evaluation: Once your insurance company has collected the necessary information, they will evaluate your claim — and might carry out additional research — before approving or denying the claim.

Payment or Settlement, Resolution and Recovery: Once your claim receives approval, your insurance company will determine the amount of compensation you are owed. That compensation might come in the form of a lump sum, structured settlement or payment made directly to the business providing repair services. You are then free to make repairs and take other steps required to help your company get back to business.