underwrite

Track a claim

Something happened. Here's what to do first.

Most people file one or two claims in a lifetime, usually on the worst day of their year. We help you document the loss, work out which policy it belongs to, and keep track - so nothing depends on remembering what you were told on the phone.

Start tracking a claimWhat does my policy cover?

This doesn't file anything with your carrier, and it never decides what's covered. Those are your carrier's job.

Your first hour

What happened?

  1. 1Shut off the water at the main valveStop more damage first.
  2. 2Photograph everything before you clean upWide shots and close-ups, including the source.
  3. 3Keep every receipt for drying and repairsFans, dehumidifiers, emergency plumbing.
  4. 4Don't throw out damaged materials yetThe adjuster may want to see them.

Usually written on: your homeowners policy. A burst pipe or leak usually goes here. Water from outside - flood or storm surge - is usually a separate flood policy.

General guidance. Follow emergency services and your carrier's instructions first.

The first hour is the one that counts

Photograph the damage before you clean it up, and those photos exist. Dry the room first, and they never will. Keep the receipt for the fans you rented, and it can be considered. Lose it, and it can't. None of it is complicated - nobody tells you at the moment you need to hear it.

Which policy is this?

A loss goes to the policy that answers it

Flood goes on a flood policy, shaking on an earthquake policy, a burst pipe on your homeowners policy. Describe what happened and we suggest where to start - with the reason, so you can disagree.

  • Based on what you describe, not whichever policy came first
  • Every option shown with why that line normally covers it
  • Says plainly if nothing on your home answers the loss

Example screen from Underwrite. Everything shown is sample data.

What happened?

Water came in from the storm surge

  • Flood · Harborlight Flood

    Suggested

    Flood is excluded from homeowners policies and written separately.

  • Homeowners · Rock Ridge Mutual

    Most losses to the building and contents are written here.

  • Earthquake · Palmetto Seismic

    Earthquake is excluded from homeowners policies and written separately.

Example screen · illustrative. Shows where a loss is normally written - never what will be paid.

What to do next

A checklist for your kind of damage

Steps built for water, wind, fire or theft - what to stop, what to photograph, what to keep, and who to call, with the numbers already filled in from your policy.

  • Specific to the loss you described
  • Carrier claims line and your agent, ready to dial
  • Add your own steps and tick them off as you go

Example screen from Underwrite. Everything shown is sample data.

Your checklist

2 / 13

  • Shut off the water at the main valve
  • Photograph everything before cleanup
  • Keep every receipt for drying and repairs
  • Call the claims line and get a claim number
  • Don't throw out damaged materials yet

Who to call

Carrier claims line

(888) 555-0142

Your agent

Shealy Insurance Group

Coverage decisions are made by your carrier, not Underwrite.

Example screen · illustrative steps and contacts.

Keep the evidence together

Everything the adjuster will ask for, in one place

Photos, receipts, the plumber's report, two repair estimates - kept with the claim, not scattered across a camera roll and an inbox. Your claim number, deductible and running estimate sit at the top, so you're never hunting on the phone.

Example screen from Underwrite. Everything shown is sample data.

Claim number
[CLM-000000]
Deductible
$1,000
Running estimate
[$X,XXX]

  • Before cleanup

    14 photos

  • Plumber's report

    PDF

  • Fan rental receipt

    Photo

  • Repair estimate A

    PDF

  • Repair estimate B

    PDF

Example screen · sample figures.

What this is - and isn't

  • It doesn't file your claim

    You report it to your carrier. We help you be ready for that call and keep track after it.

  • It doesn't decide coverage

    That's your carrier's decision. Your broker can explain your policy's limits and exclusions.

  • It isn't a public adjuster

    It's a record, a checklist and a set of phone numbers.

Start documenting it now.

It takes a minute - and the photos you take in the next hour are the ones you can't take later.

Start tracking a claimKeep my policies in one place