Safety stabilization is allowed, but only after evidence is captured.
How to File a Retaining Wall Claim
Make the area safe, keep people away from the edge, and document the damage immediately with photos and video before anything is moved.
Call as soon as possible after documenting the failure. Most policies require prompt notice to keep coverage in play.
Get wide shots, close-ups, a slow walk-through video, drainage outlets, soil movement, any storm debris or tree impact, and the areas the wall was protecting.
Leave it untouched as much as safety allows. If you must move material for safety, document everything first and save samples.
Provide the date/time of failure, what happened right before it failed, recent weather, any prior repairs, and your full photo/video set.
For major failures, yes. A stamped report helps prove cause, rules out exclusions, and strengthens the claim.
Temporary measures to prevent further collapse or protect a house/driveway, like bracing, drainage relief, or limited excavation—after documentation.
Match your photos and timeline to a clear trigger like a storm, tree strike, or slope slide, and keep weather records or news reports.
Save your claim number, adjuster emails, engineering reports, repair estimates, invoices, and a simple written timeline of events.
Simple claims may move in weeks, but engineered rebuild claims often take longer due to inspections, reports, and scope review.