To Claim or Not to Claim: That Is the Question

In this episode of Falcon Forward, Peter Brecht sits down with Mike Tanghe to unpack one of the toughest calls for policyholders and agents alike: should you turn that incident into an insurance claim, or handle it out of pocket?They walk through real-world scenarios like parking lot fender-benders, runaway shopping carts, and minor home damage, and talk about how factors like safety, claim severity, prior claim history, and household drivers (especially teens) affect the decision. You’ll hear practical, plain-English guidance on what to do right after an accident, what information to collect on scene, and how to think about the long-term impact of “small” claims on your premiums.Whether you’re a personal lines client trying to avoid surprises or an agent looking for language to help your customers decide, this conversation will give you a simple framework for answering the age-old question: to claim, or not to claim?If you found this helpful, follow Falcon Forward for more conversations on personal insurance, risk, and real-life “what do I do now?” moments.