Insurance engineering
Causation reports
For loss adjusters, insurers and insurance repair builders who need to know whether the damage fits the reported event.
What a causation report answers
Was the damage caused by the event on the claim, by something that happened earlier, or by a condition that has been developing for years? A causation report gives the engineer’s opinion on that question and the evidence behind it.
Typical claims include wind and storm damage to roofs, walls and outbuildings, water entry and its effect on framing and floors, cracking and movement attributed to a storm or a leak, and impact from fallen trees.
How we reach a conclusion
We inspect the building, including the roof space and subfloor where they can be accessed safely, and record what we find. We compare the damage with the reported event and with the building’s construction, age and maintenance. Where it helps, we also check historical imagery, weather records and earlier reports.
The report states the likely cause, what is and isn’t consistent with the event, and what was there before. We weren’t on site when the damage happened, so where the evidence supports a conclusion only on the balance of probabilities, the report says that.
What you receive
A written report with the conclusion up front, photos and observations, the reasoning behind the finding, structural and non-structural damage listed separately, and a recommended repair scope. Where structural repair is needed, we can quote the repair design and certification.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Is a causation report a forensic report?
Not in the way we offer it. Our causation reports support claim decisions and repair scopes. We don’t prepare reports for litigation or act as expert witnesses.
Can you tell whether cracking came from the storm or from reactive soil?
Often, yes. The pattern, width, age and location of cracking, read together with the site’s soil and the way the house is built, usually point one way. Where they don’t, the report says what further investigation would settle it, such as a soil test or crack monitoring.
What do you need from us?
The claim number, site address, access contact, event date and description, any photos taken at the time and any earlier reports on the property.
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Claim number, site address and photos are enough to get started.