Prompt Notice of Loss in Question

July 13, 2010

Our firm was contacted by a senior assisted living apartment complex that just discovered after approximately one year that there was severe hail damage to its roof systems.

A local builder recommended that the apartment complex owner, who lives out of town, should file a claim.

Is there a time frame for turning in the claim?

Michigan Subscriber

The CP 00 10 06 07 requires that the insured give prompt notice of the damage to the insurer. It does not define “prompt,” which may be left to the discretion of a court. If the insured had leaks or other visible damage from the hail and failed to report it, that may not be considered prompt. If the insured had an annual inspection and the hail damage was discovered for the first time during the inspection, reporting the damage when it is first discovered could be considered prompt.