Why you should notify a potential claim early

Most PI policies require you to notify your insurer as soon as you become aware of circumstances that could reasonably give rise to a claim — not only once a formal letter of demand or summons arrives.

This includes situations like an unhappy client raising concerns informally, a project going materially over budget, or noticing an error in your own work before the client has.

Notifying early does not commit you to anything and does not admit liability. It simply puts your insurer on notice, which protects your position if the matter escalates later.

Late notification is one of the most common grounds insurers rely on to dispute an otherwise valid claim. If you are ever unsure whether something is notifiable, the safer choice is almost always to notify.