Claims Reporting
How Do I File a General Liability Claim?
Report the incident to your agent and your carrier immediately — ideally the same day — with a written narrative, photos, contact information for any injured party, and a copy of any demand letter or lawsuit you have received.
Or call (234) 231-8427 — Mon–Fri, 9 AM–5 PM EST
How to File a Contractor GL Claim, Step by Step
The single most important thing you can do when something goes wrong on a jobsite is to report it fast. Late notice is one of the most common reasons covered claims get denied or settled at a worse outcome. The policy contract requires ‘prompt notice’ of any incident that could reasonably become a claim, and carriers interpret ‘prompt’ strictly — especially on serious injuries or large property damage. Learn more about general liability insurance for contractors or scroll down for the details on this question.
Step 1: Secure the scene and document everything. Take photos of the area, the damage, and any equipment involved. Get the name, phone, and address of any injured party and any witnesses. Do not admit fault, do not promise to pay, and do not give a recorded statement to anyone — including the property owner or the GC — without your carrier present. Anything you say in the first hour can show up in a lawsuit a year later.
Step 2: Call your agent the same day. Trade Safe clients call our claims line and we open the file with the carrier on the same call. We collect the basic facts, prepare a written first-notice-of-loss (FNOL) form, and submit it to the carrier with everything they need to start the investigation. Going through your agent matters because we keep the file moving and we advocate for you when the carrier asks questions.
Step 3: Provide everything the adjuster requests. The carrier will assign a claims adjuster within 1–3 business days. The adjuster will want a written statement from you, photos, the contract for the project, sub-contractor information, COIs from any sub involved, employee schedules, and (if injury) any medical or first-responder reports. Cooperation is mandatory under your policy — failure to cooperate can void coverage.
Step 4: Forward any legal correspondence immediately. If you receive a demand letter, a notice from an attorney, a subpoena, or an actual lawsuit, tender it to the carrier the same day you receive it. Once a lawsuit is filed, the carrier appoints defense counsel and takes over the legal handling. Do not respond to the lawsuit yourself or hire your own attorney first — the carrier has the right to control the defense, and going outside that process can jeopardize coverage.
Step 5: Stay engaged but let the carrier drive. Reservation-of-rights letters, settlement discussions, and policy-limits decisions are handled by the carrier and defense counsel. Your job is to provide information, attend depositions if needed, and avoid making side deals with the claimant. Most contractor GL claims settle within 6–18 months with zero out-of-pocket cost to you beyond the deductible.
Trade Safe Claims Line
Call (234) 231-8427 the same day anything happens — even if you are not sure it is a claim. We will tell you in 5 minutes whether to file and we will open the file with the carrier on the spot. Fast reporting is the single biggest variable in claim outcomes.
What Carriers Want in the First 48 Hours
Have these four things ready when you call your agent and the claim file will open the same day.
Date, Time, Location
Exactly when and where the incident happened. The job address, the area on the jobsite, and the time of day.
Photos & Diagrams
Phone photos of the damage, the injury location, and the equipment involved. Even rough sketches help.
Witnesses & Parties
Names, phone numbers, and addresses for the injured party, the property owner, the GC, and any witnesses.
Written Narrative
Your own one-page account of what happened, while it is still fresh. This becomes the foundation for the carrier’s investigation.
Why Contractors Trust Trade Safe
An independent Akron agency that has spent 20+ years exclusively underwriting and servicing contractor accounts. We answer the phone, we shop the carriers, and we get your COI back the same day.
20+
Years in Contractor Insurance
We do not dabble. Every account we write is in the trades.
Dozens
Of Carriers Shopped
Independent agency — we work for you, not one insurer.
Same-Day
Certificates of Insurance
COIs back in your inbox before the GC moves on.
Get a Contractor-Specific GL Quote Today
Independent agency. 20+ years in the trades. Dozens of A-rated carriers shopped on every quote.