A guide to insurance claims
What they are, how they work, and what to know.
Claims What they are
What is an insurance claim? An insurance claim is a formal request to your insurance company asking for payment after a covered incident. That could be a car accident, storm damage to your home, a break-in, or any other event your policy covers.
Claim Types
Car insurance Auto claims cover a wide range of situations, including:
Collisions with another vehicle, person, or property
Damage from weather, animals, or other outside forces
Hit-and-run or uninsured driver incidents, depending on your coverage
Homeowners insurance Home claims can include:
Structural damage to your home
Damage to personal property, including theft
Injuries to visitors on your property
Additional living expenses if your home becomes temporarily uninhabitable
Renters insurance If you rent, your policy can cover:
Theft of personal belongings from your apartment or vehicle
Damage to your personal property
Injuries to guests in your rented space
Damage from covered events like fire or certain weather
Landlord insurance If you own a rental property, claims can include:
Structural damage to the building
Liability claims from tenants or guests injured on the property
Loss of rental income if a covered event makes the unit uninhabitable
Commercial insurance Business claims vary by policy but commonly cover:
Property damage to your building or equipment
Liability claims from customers or third parties
Business interruption losses from a covered event
Workers' compensation claims from employee injuries
Claims How to file
(1) Review your policy. Before anything else, check your policy to confirm the incident is covered and whether there is a deadline to file.
(2) Gather your information. You will typically need:
Names and contact info of everyone involved
Date and location of the incident
Policy numbers for all parties involved
A police, incident, or damage report if applicable
Photos of any damage
(3) Contact your carrier. File your claim directly with your insurance carrier through their preferred method, whether that’s online, by phone, or through a mobile app.
If you’re a Nobile client, head to our Manage Policy page and find your carrier.
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(4) Wait for a decision. Your carrier will review the claim and determine whether it is covered under your policy. They may send an adjuster to assess damage in person.
(5) Receive payment. If approved, payment is issued to you, a designated beneficiary, or directly to the service provider by check, direct deposit, or direct payment to a contractor, shop, or facility.
Claims FAQs
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It depends on the type of claim and who was at fault. If you file a claim for something that was not your fault, your rates may not increase at all.
If you file an at-fault auto claim, your SDIP score will likely be affected and your premium may go up at renewal. The size of the increase varies by carrier and the severity of the claim.
A few things worth knowing: some carriers offer Accident Forgiveness coverage that protects your premium after a first at-fault claim. Filing a claim for a very minor incident may cost you more in the long run through higher premiums than it saves you in the payout. When in doubt, give us a call and we can help you think through whether filing makes sense for your situation.
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A denial is not necessarily the end of the road. Start by requesting a written explanation from your carrier so you understand exactly why the claim was denied.
From there, you have a few options:
File a formal appeal with your carrier. Include a clear explanation of why you believe the denial was incorrect, any supporting documentation, and references to the specific policy terms that support your claim.
If your appeal is denied and you believe your carrier acted unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, which oversees insurance companies operating in the state.
If you’re a Nobile client and your claim is denied, call us. We’ll help you understand what happened and figure out your next steps.
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It depends on the type of claim. As a general rule, you should notify your carrier as soon as possible after an incident. Most policies require prompt notification and waiting too long can complicate or jeopardize your claim.
These are legal deadlines for lawsuits, not necessarily the internal deadlines your carrier sets for filing a claim. Always check your policy for specific timeframes and when in doubt, report it early.
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An insurance adjuster is the person your carrier assigns to investigate and evaluate your claim. Their job is to assess the damage, gather information about what happened, review your policy, and determine how much your carrier will pay out.
Adjusters may contact you by phone, visit your property in person, or inspect a damaged vehicle. They are working on behalf of the insurance company, so it’s always a good idea to document everything on your end as well: Photos, receipts, estimates, and any written communication.
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A deductible is the amount you agree to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and your claim is for $8,000 in damage, your carrier pays $7,000 and you cover the remaining $1,000.
You typically pay your deductible at the time of the claim, often directly to the contractor or repair shop rather than to your insurance company. The deductible amount you chose when you set up your policy directly affects your premium. Higher deductibles generally mean lower monthly costs, and vice versa.
Note that not every coverage type has a deductible.
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Yes, in most cases you have the right to choose your own licensed contractor, repair shop, or service provider after a covered loss.
Your carrier may have a preferred vendor network and may recommend specific shops, but you are typically not required to use them.
That said, your carrier will pay based on their assessment of reasonable repair costs. If the contractor you choose charges significantly more than what your carrier considers reasonable, you may be responsible for the difference.
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Subrogation is when your insurance company steps in to recover money from a third party after paying out your claim.
A simple example: another driver causes an accident and damages your car. Your carrier pays to repair it, and then goes after the at-fault driver's insurance company to recover those costs.
From your perspective, subrogation mostly works in the background. The important thing to know is that if your carrier successfully recovers money through subrogation, you may also get your deductible back. It’s one of the reasons why working with your carrier throughout the claims process matters.