Business Interruption Claims: Recover Your Lost Income After a Covered Loss
When a covered property loss shuts down your business, your income stops but your expenses do not. Business interruption coverage exists to bridge that gap. We make sure you collect every dollar you are owed.
Business Interruption Coverage Is Complex and Frequently Underpaid
Business interruption (BI) insurance replaces lost net income and pays continuing expenses during the period your business is unable to operate due to a covered property loss. The calculation of the covered period and the amount of lost income is complex and is one of the most frequently disputed components of any commercial insurance claim.
Insurance companies often undervalue business interruption claims by shortening the covered period, using conservative revenue projections, or disputing which expenses qualify as continuing expenses. Without professional representation, most policyholders accept settlements that do not reflect their true loss.
We document your business interruption loss using your actual financial records, industry data, and forensic accounting principles to present a complete and defensible claim.
Common Damage Types We Document
- Lost Net Income: The net profit your business would have earned during the period of restoration if the covered loss had not occurred.
- Continuing Expenses: Fixed expenses that continue during the shutdown period, including rent, loan payments, insurance premiums, and payroll for key employees.
- Extra Expense Coverage: Additional costs incurred to resume operations more quickly, such as temporary facilities, equipment rentals, and expedited repairs.
- Period of Restoration: The time required to rebuild or restore the property to its pre-loss condition, which defines the duration of the covered business interruption.
- Contingent Business Interruption: Coverage for lost income caused by damage to a key supplier or customer that disrupts your business operations.
- Civil Authority Coverage: Coverage for lost income when a government authority prohibits access to your business due to damage to nearby property.
Understanding Business Interruption Coverage
Business interruption coverage is triggered by a covered property loss -- typically fire, storm, water damage, or another covered peril -- that causes a suspension of your business operations. The coverage is designed to put your business in the same financial position it would have been in if the loss had not occurred. The calculation requires a detailed analysis of your pre-loss financial performance, your projected revenue during the covered period, and all continuing expenses. This analysis is complex and requires forensic accounting expertise.
- Business interruption losses frequently exceed the direct property damage in commercial insurance claims.
- The average business interruption claim takes 12 to 24 months to fully resolve without professional representation.
- Insurance companies dispute the period of restoration and the amount of lost income in the majority of significant business interruption claims.
- Professionally represented business interruption claims consistently result in higher settlements than self-represented claims.
What You Need to Know
The Period of Restoration: How Long Are You Covered?
The period of restoration is the time it should reasonably take to rebuild or restore your property to its pre-loss condition. It begins when the covered property damage occurs and ends when the property is restored or should have been restored with reasonable speed. Insurance companies frequently argue for a shorter period of restoration than is actually required. We work with contractors and engineers to establish a realistic restoration timeline and document the full covered period.
Calculating Lost Net Income
The business interruption calculation requires projecting what your net income would have been during the covered period if the loss had not occurred. This projection is based on your historical financial performance, industry trends, and economic conditions. Insurance companies sometimes use conservative projections that understate your actual loss. We use your actual financial records and industry data to build a defensible projection that reflects your true loss.
Contingent Business Interruption
Contingent business interruption coverage applies when a key supplier or customer is damaged by a covered peril, which in turn disrupts your business operations. For example, if your primary supplier has a fire and you cannot obtain the inventory you need to operate, your contingent BI coverage may apply. This coverage is frequently overlooked and requires careful documentation of the relationship between the supplier or customer loss and your business interruption.
Extra Expense Coverage
Extra expense coverage pays for additional costs incurred to resume or maintain operations during the period of restoration. This can include temporary facilities, equipment rentals, expedited shipping, and other costs that would not have been incurred but for the covered loss. We identify all applicable extra expense costs and include them in your claim.
Tips That Protect Your Claim
Begin Tracking Losses from Day One
From the moment your operations are affected, begin tracking every dollar of lost revenue and every continuing expense. Business interruption coverage is time-sensitive and requires detailed documentation from day one.
Gather Financial Records Immediately
Collect tax returns, profit and loss statements, payroll records, and sales data for the 12 to 24 months before the loss. These records establish your baseline revenue for the business interruption calculation.
Document the Property Damage Thoroughly
The business interruption claim is triggered by covered property damage. Thorough documentation of the property damage supports both the property claim and the business interruption claim.
Do Not Accept a Short Period of Restoration
Insurance companies sometimes argue for a shorter period of restoration than is actually required. We document the realistic restoration timeline and ensure you are covered for the full period.
File the BI Claim Immediately
Do not wait until the property claim is settled to file your business interruption claim. The BI claim can and should be filed concurrently with the property damage claim.
Track All Extra Expenses
Keep receipts for every additional cost incurred to resume or maintain operations. These extra expenses may be covered under your policy and should be documented from the first day.
Critical: Protect Your Claim Before Starting Any Repairs
Do not begin full repairs until your claim is fully settled. Damage is evidence. Altering or removing it before your insurer has properly documented it can eliminate coverage entirely. Insurance companies only pay for what can be proven. Only perform emergency repairs necessary to prevent further damage, and document everything with photos and video before touching anything.
What to Do Right Now
Begin tracking lost revenue and continuing expenses from the first day your operations are affected.
Gather financial records for the 12 to 24 months prior to the loss.
Contact your insurance carrier to report the loss and file the business interruption claim concurrently with the property damage claim.
Document all property damage with photographs and video.
Track all extra expenses incurred to resume or maintain operations.
Contact DCS PIA before signing any documents or accepting any settlement offers.
Only a Fool Represents Themselves
Business interruption calculations require forensic accounting expertise that most policyholders do not have.
Insurance companies dispute the period of restoration and the amount of lost income in the majority of significant BI claims.
Contingent business interruption and extra expense coverage are frequently overlooked without professional representation.
Early mistakes -- including accepting a short period of restoration or an insufficient income projection -- can permanently reduce your recovery.
The insurance company has experienced commercial claims adjusters working on your claim. You deserve experienced representation on your side.
The insurance company has a team of professionals working for them. You deserve one working for you.
Get a Licensed Public Adjuster on Your SideWhy Policyholders Trust DCS PIA
We bring insider knowledge, construction expertise, and genuine care to every claim.
We have documented business interruption losses across Texas and Florida since 2010.
We work with forensic accountants to build detailed, defensible business interruption calculations.
We handle the entire claims process from initial documentation through final settlement.
We work on contingency. We only get paid when you do, and our fee is a percentage of the settlement we recover for you.
We have experience with all major commercial property insurers and understand how they evaluate and dispute business interruption claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
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