Special Reports
Orientation — what this is
Every year, thousands of homeowners and business owners in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts file insurance claims only to discover that their initial settlement falls far short of their actual losses. We publish special reports that dig into the real recovery patterns across our region, examining which claim types recover most completely, where insurers and policyholders most often disagree, and how regional disaster patterns shape settlement outcomes. These reports analyze actual case data, regulatory filings, and settlement documents — not marketing claims or editorial guesses. If you are considering whether to appeal a settlement or hire a public adjuster, understanding what recovery rates actually look like in your type of claim and your state is foundational to that decision.
Our most recent reports focus on the claim categories that account for the largest settlement gaps in the Northeast: major water damage from storms and flooding, fire loss rebuilding costs, and business interruption claims where the connection between the covered event and actual lost income is complex. Each report walks through the common valuation gaps that emerge in claim negotiations, the documentation that shifts the dial most decisively toward recovery, and the regional variation in how different state regulators oversee the appeals process. These are not summaries of insurance policy language. They are applied analyses of what happens when the written policy meets the actual loss.
The reference table
This comparison shows the typical settlement recovery rate by claim type, the most common dispute areas, and what documentation strongest influences the outcome.
| Claim Type | Typical Initial Settlement Rate | Most Common Dispute | Strongest Evidence for Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Damage (Flood) | 68–75% | Coverage exclusions; causation timing | Hydrological reports; dated photos; repair estimates from licensed contractors |
| Water Damage (Storm) | 76–82% | Deductible application; secondary damage | Licensed adjuster inspection; weather service records; invoice documentation |
| Fire Loss (Residential) | 71–80% | Replacement cost vs. actual cash value; code upgrade requirements | Building code authority letters; licensed engineer assessment; comparable rebuild bids |
| Roof Damage (Wind) | 74–84% | Cosmetic vs. structural; age and depreciation | Roofing contractor report; photo documentation; building permit records |
| Business Interruption | 55–72% | Causation; loss of income calculation | CPA analysis; tax returns; contemporaneous business records; operational timeline |
The gap between initial and final settlement is not random. It tracks directly to the type of evidence assembled and the rigor with which loss causation is documented. Homeowners who hire licensed adjusters to conduct the initial inspection and photograph every detail almost uniformly exceed the initial settlement. Those who rely on insurer-assigned adjusters and estimate repair costs themselves typically recover between 10 and 25 percentage points less. The regional variation is also material: Massachusetts regulators enforce stricter disclosure requirements than Maine, which means appeal outcomes in Massachusetts tend toward higher settlements, but the initial settlement already reflects this — so the gap is smaller. Maine initial settlements are more conservative, but the evidence bar in appeals is also lower. New Hampshire falls between them.
Next step
If you have a pending claim or are considering appealing an existing settlement, begin by identifying which claim type your loss falls into using the table above. Then download the report corresponding to that category — each one walks through the specific documentation strategy and appeal timeline that applies to your situation and your state. The reports are designed as working references. Print them, mark them up, and use the evidence checklist at the end of each one to assess whether your claim file contains the documentation that actually moves recovery rates. Every report also includes the state-level appeals contact and timeline, which removes guesswork about what "the next 30 days" means in practice. These are resources we have published because we believe anyone filing a claim should understand what evidence matters before they commit resources to gathering it.