BBB Business Tip: Filing insurance claims, scheduling repairs after damage or looting
Milwaukee, Wis. – Many business owners have recently sustained damage due to vandalism; others have had property go missing due to looting. Some have been forced to close down due to street closures, curfews, or safety precautions. Merchants may be wondering what steps to take in order to repair property and collect on insurance. Before filing any claim, contact your insurance agent to discuss your options.
The Insurance Information Institute has provided advice for business owners seeking assistance, and for those wanting to purchase additional coverage.
For damage to a physical building, damage caused by fire, riots, or vandalism is covered under a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which combines property, liability, and business interruption coverage. Check your policy. Windows are often covered under a separate policy, sold separately, so check to see if that is part of your options.
If your business has been forced to close or limit hours, you may have covereage under business income insurance, often called business interruption – if there has been direct physical damage to the premises. There is also something called a “civil authority provision” for lost income and expenses, if the area where the business is located is closed off by the authorities due to concerns of danger, from civil unrest or from flooding or fire.
For personal property, such as furniture, office supplies, and machinery, those should qualify for coverage under the owner’s personal property policy. Check with your insurer.
For damage to cars, look under the comprehensive portion of your auto policy. That covers damage from fire, falling objects and vandalism or riot. In addition, the comprehensive coverage is what kicks in if your windshield is cracked or broken.
If you need help making repairs, BBB has resources to help you find repair businesses near you.
- Find a glass repair or auto glass repair business near you.
- Find a roofer, plumber, or general contractor near you.
- Find a fire and water damage restoration company near you.
- Look up a specific business or search for a type of business on BBB.org.
- Contact your local BBB.
BBB has advice on choosing an insurance company to suit your needs.
Be mindful that scammers may be the next to arrive on the scene. Report scams to local law enforcement and BBB Scam Tracker. You can also use Scam Tracker to find active scams near you.
Always remember that your local BBB office is there to help.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 183 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.8 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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