Insurance Tips For Operators Hit By Sandy

In the aftermath of SuperStorm Sandy, the National Restaurant Association has posted tips for restaurant insurance.

East Coast operators affected by the recent hurricane and snowstorms can follow a few basic steps to make the insurance-claims process easier, according to a recent client alert from the insurance recovery experts at the Pillsbury law firm.

Among the tips passed on by the association:

• Collect all your insurance policies, including commercial property insurance, auto policies, flood insurance and any others, to evaluate primary coverage for a range of covered losses.
• Understand the types of losses that can be covered. Damaged buildings, ruined equipment and spoiled food are among the most common losses covered by a restaurateur’s commercial property insurance. But you may also be eligible to make claims for business interruption, including utility service interruption, and extra costs for running your business as a result of a covered loss.
• Act quickly and follow instructions. Most policies provide explicit instructions on giving notice to your insurer and/or insurance broker about potential losses. Follow the instructions carefully, and be sure to provide notices that are accurate and directed to the correct parties. You don’t need to wait to tally all your losses before providing notice.
• Document everything. Take photos of property damaged during the storm, as well as property that may have become unusable after the storm. Track expense-related losses carefully and save receipts for any repair work.