Your Guide to Making an Insurance Claim: Tips & Best Practices

Filing an insurance claim might not be something you think about often, until you suddenly have to. Whether it’s a burst pipe, a fender bender, or storm damage to your home or business, knowing what to do (and when) can make a big difference in how smoothly your claim goes.

At Dawson’s, we help our clients navigate claims every day. Here’s our practical guide to making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

Before the unexpected happens: Set yourself up for success

Even before you need to make a claim, there are simple steps you can take to prepare:

• Know what you’re covered for
  Take time to review your policies and check for any exclusions, limits, or excesses. Not sure what something means? That’s what we’re here for.
• Keep records
  Receipts, photos of valuable items, maintenance history – all of these can help support a claim. Recent valuations for high value jewellery items can be especially helpful.
• Document your assets
  Take photos or videos of the inside and outside of your home or business premises. This is incredibly useful in the event of a loss.

When something goes wrong: What to do first

• Make the area safe
  If there’s a danger to people or property, take immediate steps to protect against further damage – as long as it’s safe to do so.
• Take photos and gather details
  Document the damage or incident as soon as possible. The more information you have, the better – especially in cases like car accidents or weather damage.
• Contact Dawson’s
  We’re your first port of call – not the insurer. We’ll guide you through what’s needed, help fill out the paperwork, and liaise with the insurer on your behalf. You’re not doing this alone.