Estimating & Workflow

Duty to mitigate

The obligation under most insurance policies for the policyholder to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss. After a storm or a burst pipe, that usually means covering the roof, boarding up windows, or shutting off water. Carriers may reduce a payment if the policyholder fails to mitigate, so restoration contractors document every mitigation action, including temporary tarping, as part of the claim file.