Food vendor insurance is the responsible and smart thing to have before things go wrong. In the unfortunate circumstance that an incident occurs and you’re held responsible, you’ll need to know how to file a claim to get a payout from your insurance provider.
We’ll take you through the step by step claims process so you will know what to do in order to get a resolution as quickly as possible.
What is a Food Vendor Insurance Claim?
Food vendor insurance claims are much the same as other insurance claims. What’s covered may change but the process remains easy and simple.
A claim is when you officially request remittance from your insurer due to a loss or damage to the property that is covered by your policy.1
A claims representative will look at your claim and verify that the circumstance is covered by your insurance policy.
Oftentimes, you’ll be asked to provide documentation to verify the incident.
HOW TO FILE A FOOD VENDOR CLAIM:
1). Report the Incident to The Proper Authorities
If necessary, the first step is to report any incident that involves a violation of the law to the police. For example, if any of your cooking equipment is stolen you will need the police to come and they will ask you questions and have you fill out a police report. This is helpful because a police report may speed up the claims process and it can be useful if you end up in court. If your claim doesn’t require you to contact the authorities, document the situation and move on to the next step.2). Assemble Necessary Paperwork
Make sure you have your paperwork ready. In order to effectively document the incident, include the who, what, when, where, why and how. If possible, compile any receipts you have for the covered equipment involved in the claim. You will be asked to provide a detailed description of the property involved in a claim when you call your insurance agent. If you are able to take pictures of the incident those will be needed to file a claim. For example, if you are filing an inland marine claim than you will need to show evidence of the damage. Even if something is stolen, a picture of a broken lock will help your claims process go more smoothly.3). Contact Your Insurance Agent Immediately
Your food vendor insurance agent will be able to guide you through each step of the claims process. The more quickly you contact your agent and provide them with the necessary information, the smoother the process will be in getting your claim resolved.4). Obtain Estimates for Repairs
If you need any repairs done, don’t delay in contacting professional to assess the damage and make repairs. If you need to make the repairs anyway or your business will suffer losses, don’t wait for your claim to be completed. If your claim is approved then the insurance company may simply reimburse you for the repairs. Be sure to ask your insurance agent about this possibility. If it won’t be detrimental to your business to wait, then it is best to get consent from the insurer before spending money or waiting for payment before making any repairs. It’s best to contact a couple of reputable contractors to obtain estimates from them and submit those estimates to your insurance company.5). Protect your Food Equipment from Further Damage
Keep a record of your expenses necessary to protect the covered property, i.e. commercial food equipment, for consideration in the settlement of the claim.
We strive to make our claims process as easy as possible. However, we understand that the experience leading up to a claim may cause stress. It’s our goal to provide you with a resolution as quickly as possible, and as our client, we have your best interests in mind. You’ve entrusted us to insure your business and you can trust us to help you when you need us.
If you need to file a claim with FLIP, please contact us today.
BY LYNDSEY LARSEN
Lyndsey Larsen is the Marketing Manager and writes about business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and insurance.
Lyndsey Larsen is an experienced writer with a background in corporate communications nonprofits, SAAS corporations, and nutraceutical companies. She has previously worked as a journalist for regional and national publications. In her spare time, she enjoys chasing butterflies, rockhounding, and spending time with her two kids in Utah’s mountains or deserts. Find Lyndsey on LinkedIn.
